“Today’s figures show that just under 5,000 households in England were found to be at risk of homelessness after being served a no-fault eviction between October and December of last year,” Francesca Albanese, director of policy and social change at Crisis, said. “While this is a decrease on the previous quarter, it is still concerning and we have seen in our own services how facing eviction can cause great stress and anxiety for private renters.”
Albanese added: “The severe shortage of social housing in England means it’s essential that we have a well-functioning private rented sector that works for everyone.
“The banning of section 21 evictions will provide private tenants with greater security and protection and is a critical step towards preventing homelessness.”
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How the Renters’ Rights Act will impact tenants
After years of campaigning, section 21 “no fault” evictions are set to be banned when the Renters’ Rights Act becomes law on Friday (1 May).
A section 21 eviction allows a landlord to ask a tenant to leave without having to provide a specific reason or fault. Under the new rules, in the majority of cases, a landlord will now only be able to evict a tenant if they want to sell, move into, or move a family member into the property. This will mean renters have more protection from being evicted from their home on short notice.
Amy Hughes, advice manager at Citizens Advice, told the Big Issue that the legislation will “address the historic power imbalance in the private rental sector and give tenants the security they deserve in their homes.”
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“Our advisers have seen the devastating impact ‘no fault’ evictions can have,” Hughes added. “Now landlords will only be able to evict tenants for specific reasons, like rent arrears, antisocial behaviour, or where they need to sell the property.”
She added: “For too long, tenants have faced the threat of eviction for simply speaking out against bad landlord behaviour or poor conditions. The new laws will see an end to these retaliatory practices and deliver a welcome boost to private renters’ rights.”
John Bird, founder of the Big Issue, added: “Section 21 no-fault evictions will finally meet their long overdue end tomorrow. This sword of Damocles will be lifted from over the heads of renters at long last.
“This is true homelessness prevention – turning off the tap and halting the flow of millions of households being unfairly pushed out of private rentals and into homelessness.”
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