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 passed the Renters' Rights Bill at Third Reading on 14 January 2025, by 440 votes to 111. The Bill now moves to the House of Lords. The result reflects the government's large Commons majority, with the final vote crossing party lines in favour of the legislation. The Bill makes sweeping changes to the private rented sector in England. It abolishes section 21 "no-fault" evictions, removes fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies, caps rent increases to once a year, bans rental bidding wars, and prohibits landlords from refusing tenants because they have children or receive benefits. It also introduces a mandatory landlord database, a compulsory ombudsman redress scheme, and extends the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector, including Awaab's Law requiring landlords to fix serious hazards within set timeframes. All 315 Labour MPs and 35 Labour and Co-operative MPs voted in favour, as did all 62 Liberal Democrats who voted, all four Greens, all four Plaid Cymru MPs, the five Democratic Unionist Party MPs, and two Social Democratic and Labour Party MPs. The Conservatives voted 106 to nil against, joined by all five Reform UK MPs who voted. Two independents voted against, while eight voted for. The Bill fulfils a Labour manifesto commitment and completes a legislative journey begun under the previous Conservative government, which had itself pledged to end no-fault evictions but never brought the measure to a conclusion.
Voting Aye meant
Support a major overhaul of the private rented sector to strengthen tenants' rights, security of tenure, and housing standards — including abolishing section 21 no-fault evictions.
Voting No meant
Oppose the Bill's approach, citing concerns that abolishing assured shorthold tenancies and restricting landlord powers will reduce rental supply, harm the sector, and impose excessive burdens on landlords.
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
61
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
Your 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
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