THE Tories’ planned rental reforms fail to address the housing crisis and risk creating a “backdoor for no-fault evictions,” an MPs committee has warned.

The government has previously stated its intention to introduce legislation this year to “deliver a fairer deal for renters,” including abolishing Section 21 no-fault evictions, which allow landlords to boot out tenants without giving a reason. 

In its report published on Thursday, the levelling up, housing and communities committee welcomed moves to scrap Section 21, but warned that the creation of new eviction grounds could be exploited by landlords. 

The reforms, detailed in a government white paper in June 2022, suggest creating new grounds for eviction when a landlord wishes to sell or move into their property. 

The committee warns this could “too easily be exploited by bad landlords and become a backdoor to no-fault evictions,” and has suggested to include measures to help combat unfair evictions. 

The report also suggests that not enough is being done to tackle the underlying causes of the housing crisis. 

Labour MP Clive Betts, who chairs the committee, told the Commons on Thursday that the white paper “fails to address the most serious challenge currently facing many private renters — the high cost of renting caused by the housing crisis. 

“Simply put, there’s been decades-long failure by successive governments to build enough homes,” he said. 

“The affordability crisis in housing can only be remedied by a significant increase in housebuilding.”

The committee has suggested that 90,000 socially rented homes need to be built every year to tackle the crisis. 

The government has outlined plans to introduce stronger protection for tenants as part of its Renters’ Reform Bill. 

The plans also include introducing a Decent Homes Standard for the private rental sector and plans to abolish fixed-term tenancies in order to give tenants greater security, which were both welcomed by the committee. 

Housing rights campaigners have called on the government to “stop stalling” and bring forward the Bill. 

Generation Rent director Alicia Kennedy said: “Private renters have been especially exposed to the rising cost of living, with rising rents and draughty homes. 

“We now need to see urgent action from the government to bring forward their Bill to make these reforms a reality.”

Acorn’s Anny Cullum said tenants have been left waiting too long for much-needed protections, highlighting how promises to abolish Section 21 “no-fault” evictions were first made by the government four years ago. 

“Renters are done with waiting,” he said. “The government must bring forward this legislation and make sure it is strong enough to ensure that everyone has a safe, secure and affordable home.”

A government spokesperson said: “This government is absolutely committed to delivering a fairer deal for renters and welcome the work of the committee in this area.

“We will bring forward a Renters’ Reform Bill in this parliament, abolishing no-fault evictions so that all tenants — including university students — have greater security in their homes and are empowered to challenge poor conditions and unreasonable rent rises.”