Housing Secretary Christopher Pincher has admitted no work is currently being done on the much-anticipated Renters Reform Bill.

The proposed legislation was first mentioned in the Queen’s Speech last December, pledging to abolish Section 21 notices, reform the repossession process for landlords and provide wider access to rogue agent databases.

It would also have created a new ‘lifetime deposit’ for tenants that was promised in the Conservative election manifesto.

Some had predicted this legislation would be brought forward last month when Prime Minster Boris Johnson promised support for renters hit by the coronavirus outbreak but this just translated into a suspension of Section 21 notices.

Responding to a parliamentary question this week, Pincher said the Government’s “collective efforts” were focused on “supporting our communities as well as making sure measures to help renters and landlords over the next few months are effective.”

He said the Government was still considering responses to its consultation on abolishing Section 21 notices, which closed in October 2019.

Pincher said: “In total, almost 20,000 responses to the consultation were received and these are being carefully considered to help inform the Renters’ Reform Bill.  We will respond fully to the consultation in due course.”