Renters' Rights Bill: Third Reading
440Ayes
111Noes
Carried · majority 329 · Government won95 did not vote
646 Members · Aye 440 · No 111 · DNV 95 · grey dots in centre are abstentions
Analysis
Commons
Commons
Parliament voted on 14 January 2025 to pass the Renters' Rights Bill at its Third Reading, the final stage of consideration in the House of Commons before the bill moves to the House of Lords. The result was 440 votes in favour and 111 against, a substantial majority for the government. Third Reading is the last opportunity for MPs to accept or reject a bill in its entirety after all amendments have been debated. The Renters' Rights Bill represents a significant overhaul of the private rental sector in England. Its passage advances a package of tenant protections that, among other measures, abolishes Section 21 "no-fault" evictions (which currently allow landlords to end tenancies without giving a reason), strengthens renters' rights to challenge unfair rent increases, and introduces new standards landlords must meet. The bill affects an estimated 11 million private renters in England, as well as the landlords and letting agents who operate in the sector. The vote divided almost entirely along party lines. Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Democratic Unionist Party, Plaid Cymru, the Greens, and the Social Democratic and Labour Party all voted in favour. The Conservatives and Reform UK voted against, with the Conservatives providing the overwhelming majority of the 111 no votes. There were no notable cross-party rebellions in either direction. The bill now moves to the House of Lords for further scrutiny, where it may face additional amendments before becoming law.
Voting Aye meant
Support passing the Renters' Rights Bill, backing stronger protections for private tenants including abolishing no-fault evictions and regulating rent practices
Voting No meant
Oppose the Renters' Rights Bill in its current form, likely citing concerns about the impact on landlords, housing supply, or the viability of the private rented sector
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
315
0
46
Conservative and Unionist Party
Whipped No
0
106
10
Liberal Democrats
Whipped Aye
62
0
10
Labour and Co-operative Party
Whipped Aye
35
0
7
Independent
—
9
2
3
Scottish National Party
—
0
0
9
Reform UK
Whipped No
0
5
2
Sinn Féin
—
0
0
7
Democratic Unionist Party
Whipped Aye
5
0
0
Green Party of England and Wales
Whipped Aye
4
0
0
Plaid Cymru
Whipped Aye
4
0
0
Social Democratic and Labour Party
—
2
0
0
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
—
1
0
0
Restore Britain
—
0
1
0
Speaker
—
0
0
1
Traditional Unionist Voice
—
1
0
0
Ulster Unionist Party
—
1
0
0
Your 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 aye · 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 aye · 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 aye · Read full speech (150 words) →
Sources
Division dataUK Parliament Votes API
DebateHansard · Commons
Stance analysisAI analysis · Claude 4.x
LicenceOpen Parliament Licence v3.0