Member

Let me remind the House, if I may, of some relevant precedents from Acts that this Bill directly seeks to amend. When this House passed the Tenant Fees Act 2019, the legislation applied only to new or renewed tenancies from 1 June 2019. For all existing tenancies, the rules did not apply until 1 January 2020—a full 12-month transitional period. The much-debated Housing Act 1988 went even further in demonstrating the principle of prospective lawmaking. At the top of Schedule 1 it included a clear and explicit statement that the provisions would not apply retroactively. The words affixed to the Act are clear that legal certainty must be upheld and contractual agreements must be respected. Even the predecessor to this Bill adopted a model of prospective lawmaking by setting out a two-tier approach to implementation. The Renters’ Rights Bill stands in stark contrast. It contains no transitional period; all existing assured shorthold tenancies, even those still mid-term, would be immediately converted upon commencement.