The BBC current affairs show Panorama is set to examine Section 21 notices – so-called ‘no-fault evictions’ – tonight, and debate whether tenants deserve more protection.
The programme, called Evicted for No Reason, is at 8.30pm on BBC One.
Investigative reporter Richard Bilton will look at how ‘no-fault evictions’, as Panorama is calling Section 21 notices, have trebled in eight years, and will meet families who are being ejected from properties by their landlords.
He will ask whether more protection of private tenants is required, or if new regulations would contribute to a shortage of housing.
The programme will also feature landlords and tenant eviction company Landlord Action, who will aim to highlight what they see as the “real reasons” why landlords turn to Section 21.
Panorama has interviewed Paul Shamplina, founder of Landlord Action, alongside the firm’s senior solicitor, Emma Philips, about the rise of Section 21 no-fault evictions.
Shamplina said: “When asked to appear on Panorama, I felt a necessity to present the landlords’ side on why so many use no-fault Section 21.
“The term ‘no fault’ is really a bit of a red herring.
“There is always a reason why a landlord ends a tenancy, but it’s a far cry from the headlines showing that landlords use it just to throw tenants out.
“If a landlord has a good tenant, the last thing they want to do is get rid of them.
“However, in our experience, the main reasons for serving Section 21 notices are for rent arrears, tenants requesting to be evicted so they can be re-housed or, most recently, because landlords wish to sell their property owing to impending tax liabilities.”
New rules introduced in December ended the practice of so-called ‘no-fault evictions’ in Scotland.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has since said his party’s next manifesto will include a pledge to scrap no-fault evictions in England.
Shamplina added: “There are some very good tenants out there.
“Sadly in some cases they are being evicted through no fault of their own but rather because of their landlords’ circumstances, which must be very upsetting.
“However, in my opinion, the abolition of Section 21 in England would compound the housing shortage.”
“Evicted for no reason” is of course a very emotive title and one has to question whether it will be a fair report. Some o f the evictions will be due to Government Policy such as tax changes and the Government’s landlord bashing polices.
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Is this programme seriously going to tell us that a landlord who needs to move back into their own home shouldnt be allowed to do so. I am sure the tenants on the programme will be lovely families with sweet well behaved children who go to the local school. Moving them out will be heartbreaking and completely disruptive to their life. Whilst this in some situations is true, i hope to see a balanced programme showing some tenants that dont give a damn about the property. Landlords arent all big bad money grabbing types, and tenants aren’t scum who dont pay their rent…..balance and empathy is what is required
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There is a misconception that all landlords rent properties as a cold-hearted money making business when in fact the vast majority only own one property.
Scotland has abolished so called ‘no fault evictions’ and many people have praised them for doing so. However, a landlord can still seek possession if they want to sell the property, refurbish or reoccupy it. A landlord can still seek possession where the tenant is in arrears or in breach of their tenancy.
I appreciate circumstances where a landlord serves notice simply because they want a higher rent, however in reality this is rare and a huge risk to the landlord.
As Paul says, a landlord with good tenant seldom wants them ‘evicted’. Under the most common circumstances for seeking possession under s21, and if a landlord were prohibited from seeking possession under this process, the consequences for that landlord could be catastrophic.Landlords have rights too.
Those of us in the industry will also know that even where a tenant is offered a longer AST, they often resist or insist upon a break clause as they do not know what the future holds whether work issues, wanting to start a family etc.
https://beta.gov.scot/publications/private-residential-tenancies-landlords-guide/#grounds-for-eviction
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I suspect it is a connection between so much fresh legislation as well as changes in tax in the past few and the number of landlords selling up.
Let’s also remember why Section 21’s were introduced in the first place. It was to encourage landlords back to the market as so many had left, resulting a severe reduction in rental housing stock; and if they do remove its use, then rent controls will have to be part of the plan, because we all know the impact of supply and demand has on prices; well, most of us, as it would appear lots of politicians don’t!
It would seem for a while now that we are in the “Distroy the Housing Market” cycle.
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‘Shamplina added: “There are some very good tenants out there.’ And this comes from a bloke who only gets involved with the dregs. What the rest of us know is that the vast majority of tenants are good ‘uns (just as the vast majority of landlords are). Doubtless panorama will just drag out all the cliched stereotypes; rogue landlords booting out disadvantaged p*ss poor tenants who had the audacity to complain about the dank property they were forced into renting……
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Why would a Landlord rent a property out, knowing that if they lost their job, became ill or had a change in circumstances that they could not get the property back?
I’ve got some S21’s in effect at the moment, one that was only ever a short-term tenancy, one that is in serious rent arrears and has had nearly a year to sort themselves out with no success, and one where a Landlord needs to move back in. Only one of those has a fault, so how would the government suggest we arrange for the LEGAL OWNERS of the house to do what they want with THEIR PROPERTY?
At the end of the day, renting means that you are temporarily living ion someone else’s house. I have some tenants who have been in there for 6 months, I have some that have been in for over 20 years! But at the end of the day, the person who has their name on the deeds calls the shots, and that is the way it must stay.
Otherwise, who would rent a house out?
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I am in my 70’s and well remember the days of registered “Fair Rents”. which were brought in under Wilson’s labour government. What did they bring about? An enormous reduction in the amount of properties to rent that carried on for years. The “Fair Rent” which was reassessed every 2 years was calculated on the magical premise of supply and demand being equal. Which of course it never was and the ridiculously low rent would be increased by about a £1.00 p.w. after each 2 year period
The rental market only picked up when AST’s came about. So here we are again the same false restrictions on levels of rent and inability to obtain possession of the property when required being suggested by Corbyn and the labour party.
This time when the stock of rental properties dries up there is only a diminishing number of owner occupiers to fall back on. Where will people live then?
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On the streets of course.
There was a very interesting news item, ironically on the BBC, that reported on the highest number of homeless people living on the streets since records began, and section 24 has barely begun to take hold yet.
Is it too much to hope for that the powers that be go back to school to learn their sums. It seems pretty obvious to anyone in the property industry (apart from the powers that be) what happens when you put 2 and 2 together. Or do the well educated politicians think that lack of rental stock and homelessness are just coincidence ?
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What is happening is the politicians are being GREEDY; it is all about buying votes and the fact is there are more tenants than landlords. Landlords are easy bashing fodder. Who loses out in the long term TENANTS as supplies of houses to rent fall.
However, that does not make for good press!
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Surprise, Surprise!
The supposedly none bias BBC commissions a mocumentary to shift blame to Landlords as to why people will be losing their homes when it’s actually due to the governments attack on Landlords and the rental sector in general!
KGB style tactics!
Don’t be fooled tenants, if you are a good tenant, who pays their rent and still receives a section 21 to vacate, it is unlikely to be your Landlord’s fault. It IS the fault of the political elite (regardless of party) for forcing their backs against the wall.
Love to see banking receive the same treatment, some renters would never have lost their homes in the first place!
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KFC running out of chicken will be as nothing in comparison to the story when this country finally runs out of PRS properties due to our stupid Government and even more stupid Opposition.
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And what will happen when there is no rental stock, and a rental property becomes available? There will be so many applications that the price will soar as Tenants attempt to gain the upper hand.
And when a Tenant objects to the Landlord not fixing something after a few months of asking? Tenant gets the boot!
So we will return to slum landlords, dangerous properties and some evil drinks-servers forcing Tenants to bend over backwards with the threat of eviction, knowing that the Tenant has no choice!
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The bottom line is tenants need to realise and appreciate that it is not their house. It belongs to someone else who has allowed them to live in in it for a period of time. There is NO circumstances where a tenant has cause for complaint if they are given notice. IT IS NOT THEIR PROEPRTY.
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