The next stage of the Renters Rights Bill will be held today, giving MPs an opportunity to share their views and debate any contentious issues proposed.

The Report Stage in the House of Commons will offer MPs an opportunity to consider amendments to the planned legislation which was put forward in the committee stage in November.

The Report Stage will be followed by debate on the Bill’s Third Reading, at which point it will have concluded its passage through the Commons before the amended draft legislation then moves to the House of Lords, which is unlikely to disagree with the Commons. But that could be a mistake according to well-established property groups.

The National Residential Landlords Association, British Property Federation, Goodlord, Leaders Romans Group, and Propertymark have all signed a statement rejecting the planned changes in their existing form.

Speaking ahead of the final stages of the Renters’ Rights Bill in the House of Commons today, the coalition of organisations said: “We accept that Section 21 repossessions are ending, and support measures to ensure every rental property is of a decent quality. However, the government’s proposed changes risk making access to rented housing harder for the very people we want to support.

“Limiting rent in advance, combined with frozen housing benefit rates and not enough rental housing will make it all but impossible for those with poor or no credit histories in the UK to prove their ability to sustain tenancies. This includes international students, workers from overseas and those employed on a short-term or variable basis with an income that fluctuates.

“Cutting off any assurance landlords might seek when renting to those who cannot easily prove their ability to afford a tenancy is neither practical nor responsible. Those who will suffer are those most likely to struggle to pass affordability checks.”

Landlords ‘at risk of unpaid rent’ under proposed amendments to Renter’s Rights Bill