Andrew Stephenson MP, Under Secretary of State at the Dept' for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, has confirmed (in answer to a parliamentary question from Shadow Minister Matthew Pennycook MP during a debate on abolishing section 21 repossession notices) that Rental Reform remains a priority for the current Government and that "we will want to bring forward the legislation in good time so that it can go through all the stages before the next general election."

On section 21 evictions Mr Stephenson said "We know that landlords need certainty too. If a tenant needs to leave a tenancy, we will increase the amount of notice they must give ...... The new system will be easier for tenants and landlords to understand .... We are striking the right balance between improving security for tenants and ensuring that landlords continue to feel confident to invest in the market. Good landlords play a vital role in providing homes for millions of people ... and we want to reassure them that the new system will continue to be a stable market for landlords to invest and remain in. No one will win if our reforms do not support landlords as well as tenants."

On enforcement against "rogue" landlords and poor property standards he said "We have strengthened local authorities' enforcement powers by introducing financial penalties of up to £30,000, extending rent repayment orders and introducing banning orders for the most serious and prolific offenders but we intend to go much further." He also hoped that all the Members [of Parliament] present at the debate realised that "the Government are committed to reforming the private rented sector in a fair and balanced way, abolishing no-fault section 21 evictions and providing more clarity for landlords when seeking repossession [and] to giving tenants more security."

The full debate can be accessed here and Mr Stephenson's answer can be read in full at "Column 103WH" (3.46 p.m.) in the debate transcript.