The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has delayed the release of the PRS White Paper until 2022.
First announced in the Queen’s Speech earlier this year, many hoped the White Paper would lead to the Renters Reform Bill and subsequently section 21 would finally be repealed after years of promises.
However, the sector will now wait until 2022 for the document, and it is not exactly clear when in 2022 that will be.
The department says the delay will give them “the additional and necessary time to develop the balanced package of reforms that we promised to deliver.”
It adds: “We have been grateful for the sector’s positive engagement which has helped inform our policy development to date.
“We want to make sure we take full advantage of this knowledge and experience to produce a package of reforms that works for both tenants and landlords.
“Building more time into our policy development will not only allow us to benefit from continued work with the sector but will also allow us to carefully consider the findings of the National Audit Office’s review of regulation of the sector which is due to report in the coming months.”
“I hope you agree that it is better for us to take the time to get these reforms right working in partnership with colleagues than to rush something out that misses the mark.
“We look forward to continuing to work with you on this important policy”