A number of proposals to change the long-awaited legislation, which will return to parliament after Easter recess, include making tenants commit to a minimum six-month period when renting a property.

Other changes include delaying a ban on section 21, or ‘no-fault’ evictions, for existing tenancies until an assessment by the justice secretary on the readiness of the court system to deal with repossession claims is published.

​When first introduced to Parliament last May, the Renters (Reform) Bill set out to abolish no fault-evictions in England, where tenants can be forced to move out with no justification.

It would mean that landlords could only evict tenants under certain circumstances, including when they wish to sell the property or when they or a close family member want to move in.

Last month the BBC revealed ministers were consulting backbench Conservative MPs on watering down their proposed reforms.

And the bill’s progress through Parliament has been slow, after around 50 Tory MPs, some of whom are landlords, called for changes.

In a letter to Tory MPs, Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young said he had listened to concerns from MPs and the sector, and the government would bring forward changes when the draft legislation returns to the House of Commons after the Easter break.

Other proposed changes include:

• Reviewing council landlord licensing schemes to ensure they do not duplicate a new property portal where landlords would have to register their properties
• Allowing landlords to evict students to ensure tenants move out at the end of the academic year
• Giving tenants who are evicted under new possession grounds a right to homelessness support from their local council

Responding to the changes, Matt Downie, Crisis chief executive, said: “The Renters Reform Bill’s purpose was to give much needed protection to renters, and it’s absolutely vital that it does so. Failing to immediately abolish Section 21 or ‘no-fault’ evictions – the leading cause of homelessness in England – won’t do that.

“There has been positive movement on homelessness prevention measures in this Bill, which would see households still being supported after eviction, which we very much welcome. But with the Bill still not published and continued uncertainty over ending no-fault evictions, this situation continues to cause anxiety for millions of renters across the country.

“The Levelling Up Minister is correct – it’s vital that the Renters Reform Bill protects tenants, prevents homelessness and supports responsible landlords, but there is more it needs to include for it to achieve this.”

The National Union of Students (NUS) has condemned the government’s “betrayal” of student renters.

NUS UK vice president for higher education, Chloe Field, said: “The student housing market is broken, as is our higher education system. This government has offered students nothing, other than the occasional top up to hardship funds. While that’s better than zero, with a cost-of-living crisis, spiralling rents and soaring bills affecting students across the country, it’s a sticking plaster at best. The Renters’ Reform Bill was the one concrete thing the Government had to offer us.

“It promised long needed reforms which would lead to securer tenancies and a market much more in tune with student tenant needs. To have the Government throw this away and ensure that landlords continue to have all the power is unforgiveable. Students will be free to make their views heard on the Government’s caving to Tory landlords clear at the ballot box come the election. And make no mistake: We will.”

Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, said the amendments “help to address some of the key concerns of letting agents and strike a fairer balance of security for both landlords and tenants”.

He added: “We have worked hard on behalf of agents to highlight the unintended consequences of removing fixed-term tenancies, including, crucially, those for student housing. The UK Government’s commitment to review the implementation of the move to open-ended tenancies and establish an initial six-month tenancy period for tenants, does provide more certainty for agents and their landlords.

“Propertymark has also long said that the key to the success of the Renters (Reform) Bill is a swift, efficient, and cost-effective court system, so it is also pleasing to see the UK Government commit to further assessments and measures to ensure the current inadequacies that exist in the court system are tackled before removing no-fault evictions.

“There is still a long way to go before the Renters (Reform) Bill becomes law, so Propertymark will continue to champion the role of property agents and iron out further unintended consequences to ensure the legislation works in practice for all.”