End to unfair evictions revealed by government

Communities Secretary James Brokenshire has announced that private landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants from their homes at short notice and without good reason.

Marking the biggest change to the private rental sector for a generation, the government has outlined plans to consult on new legislation to abolish Section 21 evictions – so called ‘no-fault’ evictions. The government says that this will bring an end to private landlords uprooting tenants from their homes with as little as eight weeks’ notice after the fixed-term contract has come to an end.

It is believed that there are more than four million people now living in privately rented accommodation in the UK. However, the housing market has not kept pace with the changes in society and leaves many tenants feeling insecure.

Brokenshire said: “By abolishing these kinds of evictions, every single person living in the private rented sector will be empowered to make the right housing choice for themselves – not have it made for them. And this will be balanced by ensuring responsible landlords can get their property back where they have proper reason to do so.

“We are making the biggest change to the private rental sector in a generation. We are creating homes, opportunities and thriving communities, where people can come together and put down roots, bound by a strong sense of belonging. Everyone has a right to the opportunities they need to build a better life. For many, this means having the security and stability to make a place truly feel like home without the fear of being evicted at a moments’ notice. We are building a fairer housing market that truly works for everyone.”

A Local Government Association spokesperson, said: “Housing security is critical for the health and well-being of families and everyone deserves a safe, secure and affordable place to call home. The vast majority of landlords are responsible and provide decent housing for their tenants, but their reputation can be tarnished by a minority that can exploit loopholes with little regard to the welfare of tenants.

“Around a third of all families that councils accepted as homeless last year were made homeless by the ending of an assured shorthold tenancy. We therefore look forward to exploring the detail of the proposals that aim to ensure that landlords cannot evict tenants without sufficient warning or justification. However, the proposal does not address the unaffordability of housing which is a key reason why many families lose their tenancy and become homeless. To address this the Government needs to adapt welfare reforms, and reform Right to Buy so that councils can build more genuinely affordable council homes.”