Advertisement
BUY A WINTER SUPPORT KIT & CHANGE A VENDOR’S LIFE
BUY NOW
Housing

MPs are considering scrapping the section 21 ‘no fault’ eviction law

Campaigners have called for an end to the law that allows landlords to evict a tenant without giving a reason. This week it was debated in parliament

The main cause of homelessness in the UK is the loss of a private rented tenancy and the campaign fighting back against that reality went to parliament yesterday.

Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 enables a landlord to evict a tenant without giving a reason if they follow a legal process. And, according to research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, it has become a key driver of homelessness with the number of private tenants being evicted rising by a fifth last year.

The legislation came under the microscope in a parliamentary debate yesterday as part of the government’s pledge to look at improving renter security.

Karen Buck, Westminster North MP, led the debate, citing the “shadow of insecurity” that the prospect of being evicted brings for the UK’s 15 million renters.

“It is a structural insecurity in a growing sector that is increasingly home to families and people who are looking for security,” said Buck.

Advertisement
Advertisement

“This is a huge number of people now living under the shadow of insecurity. And the issue of homelessness – expensive, traumatic, a huge challenge for local authorities though it is – is only the tip of the insecurity iceberg. We know that there is a solid body of evidence to tackle section 21 evictions in order for us to tackle homelessness.”

Housing campaigner Generation Rent has criticised the order for being out of touch with the reality of the rental market, tipping it in favour of landlords and weakening tenants’ rights. Its petition on banning ‘no fault’ evictions has attracted more than 50,000 signatures.

Croydon Council and Age UK also voiced their support for section 21 to be scrapped. In Scotland, the act was abolished last year.

But, speaking in the debate, Homelessness Minister Heather Wheeler insisted that no decision had yet been made on whether to axe the order or not.

“There have been calls to abolish section 21 evictions but we’ve not yet made any firm policy decisions on whether to legislate to alter the provisions as set out in section 21 and first want to consider carefully the response of a call for evidence on user experience of the courts,” said Wheeler.

“Property is a valuable asset and landlords may need to be able to regain their property quickly for reasons such as if they need to sell the property or to enable themselves or a family member to move in. There is a clear legal protection for tenants and a clear process that landlords must follow when carrying out a section 21 eviction.”

Image: PA/Yuki Mok

Advertisement

Change a vendor's life this Christmas and beyond

Buy a Big Issue Winter Support Kit for £34.99, you’ll receive four copies of the magazine and vendors could receive immediate tools for survival plus access to vital training and employment pathways to escape poverty for good.

Recommended for you

Read All
Louis Theroux leads calls to help 131,000 children waking up homeless on Christmas Day
homelessness

Louis Theroux leads calls to help 131,000 children waking up homeless on Christmas Day

Renters Reform Bill: Tories vote down Labour bid to end no-fault evictions delay
Renters Reform Bill

Renters Reform Bill: Tories vote down Labour bid to end no-fault evictions delay

One in four who go to councils for help with homelessness will be 'turned away' this Christmas
Rough sleeping

One in four who go to councils for help with homelessness will be 'turned away' this Christmas

Help homeless and vulnerable people with The Big Issue
Homelessness

Help homeless and vulnerable people with The Big Issue

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Here's when people will get the cost of living payment in 2024
3.

Here's when people will get the cost of living payment in 2024

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue