Renters' Rights Bill Report Stage: Government New Clause 14
372Ayes
114Noes
Carried · majority 258 · Government won161 did not vote
647 Members · Aye 372 · No 114 · DNV 161 · grey dots in centre are abstentions
Analysis
Commons
Commons
Parliament voted on 14 January 2025 to pass Government New Clause 14 of the Renters' Rights Bill, which caps the rent a landlord can demand before a tenancy agreement is signed at one month's rent. Any amount beyond that becomes a prohibited payment under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, exposing landlords or letting agents who request or accept it to local authority enforcement and fines of up to £5,000. The division passed by 372 votes to 114. In practical terms, the clause targets the practice of landlords demanding several months' rent upfront before a tenancy begins, either as a way of triggering competition between prospective tenants or of excluding those who cannot immediately raise large lump sums. Under the new rule, landlords retain the right to take a holding deposit of up to one week's rent, a tenancy deposit of five or six weeks, and one month's rent in advance, and they may still carry out referencing and affordability checks. The measure affects landlords and letting agents across the private rented sector in England. Labour MPs voted unanimously in favour and Conservative MPs voted unanimously against, with Reform UK's six voting MPs also opposing the clause. The Conservative shadow minister argued that the cap would harm renters on the financial margins, including those with poor credit records, foreign workers and students, by removing a tool that allowed them to demonstrate affordability. The government countered that large upfront demands place serious strain on tenants and can exclude families altogether. The Bill passed its Third Reading the same day by 440 votes to 111.
Voting Aye meant
Support capping pre-tenancy rent in advance at one month to protect renters, particularly those on lower incomes, from exclusionary upfront payment demands.
Voting No meant
Oppose the cap, arguing it removes flexibility that helps financially marginal renters — such as those with poor credit records, foreign workers, or students — demonstrate affordability and secure a home.
Each row is one party. The stacked bar gives the within-party split of Aye / No / Absent; the columns on the right give the raw counts. The whip column shows the published party position — “Free vote” means the whip was formally removed for this division.
Party
Whip
Aye / No / Abs
Aye
No
Abs
Labour Party
Whipped Aye
314
0
47
Conservative and Unionist Party
Whipped No
0
106
10
Liberal Democrats
—
0
0
71
Labour and Co-operative Party
Whipped Aye
36
0
6
Independent
—
9
2
3
Scottish National Party
—
0
0
9
Reform UK
Whipped No
0
6
1
Sinn Féin
—
0
0
7
Democratic Unionist Party
Whipped Aye
3
1
1
Green Party of England and Wales
Whipped Aye
4
0
0
Plaid Cymru
—
0
0
4
Social Democratic and Labour Party
—
2
0
0
Your Party
—
2
0
0
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
—
0
0
1
Restore Britain
—
0
1
0
Speaker
—
0
0
1
Traditional Unionist Voice
—
1
0
0
Ulster Unionist Party
—
1
0
0
Source · Hansard · UK Parliament Votes API · whip status from announced positions; “free vote” indicates the whip was formally removed
Government amendments strengthen tenant protections by capping rent in advance at one month, limiting guarantor liability after tenant death, enabling landlord possession for redevelopment with alternative accommodation, and improving enforcement through database fees and ombudsman provisions.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (9,275 words) →
Bill creates unintended problems: locks out financially vulnerable tenants (poor credit scores, foreign workers, retirees) by removing rent-in-advance flexibility; imposes massive unfunded burdens on councils; lacks impact assessment; risks reducing housing supply as landlords exit sector or use short-term lets instead.Conservative · Voted no · Read full speech (2,176 words) →
Supports ending no-fault evictions and key protections, but amendments needed: extend student housing protections to off-street lets; limit in-tenancy rent increases to Bank of England base rate; require landlords to pay alternative accommodation costs; apply decent homes standard to military service family accommodation.Liberal Democrat · Voted no_vote_recorded · Read full speech (2,237 words) →
Highlights tenant vulnerabilities in London and south-east where rent-in-advance demands are astronomical (equivalent to home purchase deposits); welcomes reforms but notes enforcement and council capacity are critical.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (1,943 words) →
Seeks amendment to extend decent homes standard to Ministry of Defence service family accommodation to ensure service families receive same protections as other tenants.Labour · Voted no_vote_recorded · Read full speech (87 words) →
Warns that landlords are pre-emptively raising rents and terminating tenancies before the Bill takes effect; calls for immediate interim protections during transition period.Independent · Voted aye · Read full speech (1,265 words) →
Supports Bill as homelessness charity worker; measures will help charities provide more support to homeless people seeking rental accommodation.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (92 words) →
New clause 22 should require landlords to hold insurance and pay for alternative accommodation when properties become uninhabitable; current situation leaves tenants thousands of pounds out of pocket.Liberal Democrat · Voted no_vote_recorded · Read full speech (150 words) →
Sources
Division dataUK Parliament Votes API
DebateHansard · Commons
Stance analysisAI analysis · Claude 4.x
LicenceOpen Parliament Licence v3.0