Tenants face homelessness as no-fault eviction threat up 76%
There has been a 76% jump in the number of no-fault eviction notices issued by landlords, putting tenants at a higher risk of becoming homeless, government data has revealed.
Some 5,940 households in England faced this risk after receiving a Section 21 eviction notice between April and June 2022 - up from 3,380 in the same period in 2021, according to the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government (DLUHC).
Charities are calling for reform of the private rented sector, amid fears that the situation will worsen over winter.
When issued a Section 21 notice, tenants are given two months' notice to leave their property.
DLUHC has confirmed the Government’s intention to “abolish Section 21 evictions” after the former Conservative leader Boris Johnson promised to ban no-fault evictions at the 2019 general election.
According to the BBC, a recent survey by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) showed that most of its members could envisage operating without Section 21 provided other proposals are in place.
In an evidence session last week (21 November) before the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Committee, Michael Gove said no fault evictions "need to be cracked down on" to make sure landlords do not exploit the vulnerability of tenants.
However, when asked by Florence Eshalomi, Labour MP for Vauxhall, whether there would be any merit in a “temporary suspension of section 21”, the Secretary of State responded: “A large proportion of landlords want to make sure their tenants are safe and secure, […] but there are also concerns over a small number of tenants who behave in an antisocial way, some of whom are in arrears not due to poverty but because they are trying to 'outfox' the landlord.”
He added: “The legislation the Government is bringing forward has the support of many landlords because they know that even when the option of a section 21 notice goes, there are other options for dealing with that tiny minority of antisocial or otherwise difficult tenants.”
Gove concluded: “I think bringing a balanced package overall is the right thing to do.” However, he accepted that in the meantime it was hard for those in the private rented sector.
A DLUHC spokesperson said: “We know how difficult this winter will be and no individual or their family should be without a home during it.
"This government is committed to abolishing Section 21 evictions, protecting 1.3m families with children from losing their homes, and have provided £316m this year to councils to help ensure no family is without a roof over their heads. We've also set aside £37bn in support measures for those struggling with the rising cost of living.
“Our interventions are working – our Homelessness Reduction Act has seen over half a million households prevented from becoming homeless or supported into settled accommodation since 2018 and our £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme will continue the delivery of affordable homes across the country."
Lottie Winson
