Labour has slammed the government for reportedly planning to introduce exemptions for housebuilders seeking to build fewer affordable homes, along with a report that the proposed ban on Section 21 evictions could be scrapped.

Critics were quick to hit out at a report in The Times newspaper yesterday, detailing plans by the government to reform housing regulations as part of wider attempts to stimulate economic growth.

One of the most eye-catching proposals would include giving some developers an exemption from building affordable homes, as well as plans to abolish some environmental protections.

The newspaper also detailed plans to rid of plans prepared by the now former levelling up secretary, Michael Gove, to ban so-called no-fault evictions.

Labour’s shadow levelling up secretary, Lisa Nandy, tweeted yesterday: “They crashed the economy.

“It led to soaring mortgage rates, rents, energy bills and food prices.

“Their answer is less affordable housing.”

Matthew Pennycook, the party’s shadow housing minister, accused the prime minister of “betraying” private renters.

The 2019 Conservative manifesto pledged to abolish Section 21 evictions, where a landlord can end a tenancy without giving a reason.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has also expressed anger at news that the government could shelve plans to abolish Section 21 evictions.

CIEH had previously welcomed the UK government’s commitment to improving housing standards after measures to protect renters and support levelling up were announced during the Queen’s Speech on 10 May.

The long-awaited Renters Reform Bill was announced with a ban on the so-called no-fault evictions included, ending the current state where people can be evicted without reason at the end of a fixed-term tenancy agreement, or during a tenancy with no fixed end date. The Bill would also apply the legally-binding Decent Homes Standard in the Private Rented Sector for the first time, aiming to give tenants safer, better quality and better value homes.

However, with reports are now suggesting that the government is intent on rowing back on its commitments, Ross Matthewman, head of policy and campaigns at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, is not impressed.

He said: “This is incredibly bad news for renters.

“It’s been a long three years since the UK government first announced its intention to ban no-fault evictions, and the measures outlined in the Queen’s Speech earlier this year pointed to real progress. Reports that these proposals could now be dropped are deeply worrying.

“Instead of shelving these plans, the government should keep its word to end no-fault evictions and require genuine grounds for repossession of tenanted property.

“Eviction causes enormous financial hardship and damages mental health. Renters should not be evicted unnecessarily or forced out under false pretences, for example because they have challenged poor housing standards.

“The government has previously recognised that a ban on no fault evictions is needed to level the playing field between landlord and tenant.

“We are calling on the government to stick to its commitments.”

Rachael Sinclair, Nationwide’s director of mortgages and financial wellbeing, said that if the government fails to push ahead with the proposals outlined in the Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper, it will miss a vital opportunity.

She commented: “Rental regulations are crying out for an overhaul and now is the time to act as the cost-of-living crisis further exacerbates the challenges facing the sector, primarily poor conditions.

“Dropping the proposals at this point is short-sighted, and will only add to people’s concerns during what remains a worrying time for many.”

Government set to shelve plans to scrap Section 21 evictions