The abolition of no-fault evictions looks to have moved up the political agenda.

A sentence was slipped into an announcement on the planning system, made yesterday by housing secretary Robert Jenrick.

The sentence does not refer by name to Section 21, but says: “To secure a fairer deal for those who are renting, the Government will abolish ‘no fault’ evictions through the Renters Reform Bill and bring forward the social housing white paper to ensure residents in social homes are treated with dignity and respect.”

No date is given for the introduction of the Renters Reform Bill to the Commons. It was announced in the Queen’s Speech in December, and  is also intended to include a lifetime deposit, meaning that tenants will not have to find a new deposit each time they rent.

However, the fact that the Renters Reform Bill was cited yesterday suggests that it has moved up the Government’s agenda.

The rest of the statement concentrates on planning, saying that development of high streets is to be housing-led, and developers are to be encouraged to build above and around railway stations.

Developers will also be able to demolish empty commercial, industrial and residential buildings and replace them with new homes, without a lengthy planning process.

The RICS gave a half-hearted welcome to the changes.

Huw Edward, head of RICS UK government relations and city strategy, said: “It seems planning rules change nearly as often as housing ministers.”

He welcomed plans to relax the Green Belt to allow previously developed land near transport hubs to be used for new homes but went on: “It’s bizarre, given their net-zero commitment, that the Government is proposing to make it easier to demolish existing buildings – rather than retrofitting them with the latest technology.

“It isn’t green or sustainable for our planet and something ministers have been repeatedly told.”