There was a ‘shouting from the hilltops of joy’ from activists about the Renters Reform Bill but it now seems they have made a massive U-turn on their original euphoria.

Recently the Renters Reform Coalition  a campaign group presided over by Generation Rent tweeted “The government promised a ‘better deal for renters’, yet the bill as currently written will continue to allow many unfair evictions.”

The group has also uploaded a template letter for activists to send to their MPs.

This approach is somewhat different to the coalition’s outpourings when the Bill was finally published which welcomed the unveiling as “a momentous day for England’s 11 million private renters as - after years of tireless campaigning from thousands of fed-up renters and pro-tenant organisations.”

However the coalition now says the Bill has “massive holes that will deny renters the end to unfair evictions that they have been promised.”

Its campaign is now urging activists to: “Use our online tool to email your MP and raise top concerns for renters' rights, invite them to the Renters’ Reform Coalition parliamentary drop-in event, and ask them to speak in the second reading.”

It then offers guidelines on how best to approach their MPs to achieve support , saying: “If you would like to do this, please enter your postcode into the box below. When you press 'continue' you will be able to see a draft email ready for you to amend - if you want - and send to your MP.

“It's as easy as that.

“If you can and have the time, we encourage you to amend the email to include your motivation for being part of the campaign for renters’ rights, including your experience of private renting if you have it, as MPs can be more receptive to reading an email which has been personalised.”

The Nationwide Foundation funds The Renters Reform Coalition and its website includes a declaration that says: “This supports Generation Rent in hosting the Renters’ Reform Coalition; a group of renters’ voice and support organisations.”

Although the coalition’s stance has changed on the Renters Reform Bill, the Housing Secretary Michael Gove’s announcement on the publication of the Bill included  highly positive backslapping quotes from Generation Rent.

Only a month ago the group said: “The Renters Reform Bill is a huge opportunity to improve the lives of the 11 million people who now rent from private landlords in England.

“Arbitrary Section 21 evictions make it impossible for tenants to put down roots and report problems about their home with confidence. Abolishing them will take away much of the stress of renting and improve communication and trust between tenants and landlords.

“The new Property Portal and Ombudsman have the potential to make it much harder for criminal landlords to operate.