Michael Gove's renters' rights bill to abolish no-fault evictions is watered down amid pressure from Tory MPs and landlords

Landmark legislation which sought to abolish no-fault evictions and strengthen renter's rights has been watered down amid pressure from Tory backbenchers and landlords.

The Renters' Reform Bill - championed by Housing Secretary Michael Gove - will now include amendments to prevent tenants ending contracts in the first six months and hinted at delays to no-fault evictions being banned.

Dozens of Tory backbenchers had been ready to rebel against the legislation on the grounds that it would disadvantage landlords unfairly and exacerbate the shortage of private rented accommodation by pushing them out of the market.

In a letter to Conservative MPs, Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young acknowledged that 'colleagues and constituents have been concerned about aspects of our reforms' and that the landlord sector needed 'certainty'.

But changes which included a commitment for the Lord Chancellor to review the 'readiness' of the courts before no-fault evictions can be banned, prompted accusations from opposition parties and campaigners that renters were being 'sold up the river'.

Labour's Shadow Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook said: 'Rishi Sunak and Michael Gove have chosen once again to put the interests of party management ahead of what is right for the British people.

'After years of delay, private renters have every right to be furious at the watering down of the vital protections the Tories promised them.'

Tom Darling, of the Renters' Reform Coalition, said the amendments meant 'this legislation will hardly be an improvement on the status quo, and in some cases it will make things worse.'

Last year polling revealed Conservative Party support was in 'freefall' amongst the quarter of their 2019 voters who are private renters, with just 47 per cent now saying they will back the party at the next election.

Overall, just 15 per cent of the nation's 4.6million privately rented households are set to vote for the Conservatives at the next election, according to the Opinium polling.

Tory MPs will now vote on the Bill next month following the Easter Recess. 

A Housing Department spokesman said: 'Our landmark renters' (reform) bill will deliver a fairer private rented sector for both tenants and landlords. 

'It will abolish Section 21 evictions - giving people more security in their homes and empowering them to challenge poor practices.

'The bill must strike the balance between delivering security for tenants and fairness for landlords. 

'We have listened to feedback from landlord and tenant groups and from MPs, and will bring amendments forward at Commons report stage after Easter recess.'