"The government’s decision not to share the Renters’ Rights Bill Justice Impact Test raises serious questions about transparency and accountability"
- Dr Neil Cobbold - Reapit
The government has declined to publish the Justice Impact Test for the Renters’ Rights Bill, a document that outlines how proposed legislation could affect the UK’s courts and tribunals.
Property technology company Reapit submitted a request to access the test as part of its correspondence with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The Justice Impact Test is a standard government process that departments must complete when proposed changes are expected to impact the justice system. It includes projections on case volumes and any anticipated changes to legal aid requirements. The completed assessment is submitted to the Ministry of Justice.
In a formal response, Baroness Taylor, parliamentary under-secretary of state at the MHCLG, rejected the request, stating: “Justice Impact Assessments are internal government documents which are not routinely published, and therefore I should note that we will not be able to share them with you.”
Baroness Taylor added that MHCLG is working in partnership with the Ministry of Justice and HM Courts and Tribunals Service to plan for the implementation of the proposed reforms, noting: “In the longer term, we expect our reforms to reduce the volume of court possession claims, as only those cases where there is a clear, well-evidenced ground for possession will be able to proceed.”
Despite this, Reapit maintains that the information should be made available to the public. The company argues that withholding the test limits transparency and hampers the ability of stakeholders to assess the full impact of the Renters’ Rights Bill.
“The government’s decision not to share the Renters’ Rights Bill Justice Impact Test raises serious questions about transparency and accountability," comments Dr Neil Cobbold, commercial director at Reapit UKI (pictured). "The estimate of changes in the number of court and tribunal cases is a vital tool for understanding how the legislation will affect the property sector – including case volumes – and whether the justice infrastructure is in place to support the change,"
He added, "With limited time left for parliamentarians to scrutinise the Bill, the refusal to publish this information will stifle meaningful debate. Landlords, tenants, letting agents and legal professionals all need clarity to assess how the Renters’ Rights Bill will impact their operations and access to justice.”
