The number of people threatened with Section 21 evictions has increased, Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) statistics have revealed.
The statistics released this week by MHCLG show that while the number of households threatened with homelessness overall has reduced slightly (1.3%) on the same period last year, 6,800 households were faced with homelessness due to a Section 21 eviction notice – an increase of 0.6% on last year’s quarter.
Overall the ending of a private tenancy accounted for over a quarter of all homelessness cases, the largest single cause of homelessness.
The latest data has prompted Big Issue founder Lord Bird, the crossbench peer, to table a number of amendments to the Renters’ Rights Bill in a bid to force section 21 evictions to be banned when the bill becomes law.
The legislation, currently in the upper chamber, is facing wrecking amendments from Conservative and pro-landlord peers, including an indefinite delay to abolishing Section 21, and allowing the vast majority of landlords to retain the powers.
Lord Bird said: “Section 21s undermine the security of all tenants living in private accommodation – regardless of whether their landlord has any intention of using them.
“Too many tenants hit by these evictions end up homeless, adding to this country’s spiralling homelessness crisis and increasing the pressure on local councils and public finances.
“Renters have waited too long for Westminster to come good on the promises of successive governments to end no-fault evictions.
“The Renters Rights’ Bill must be passed and implemented by the summer, as the government have promised, so this time next year, no renter will live in fear of this sword of Damocles hanging over their heads.”
Tom Darling, director of the Renters’ Reform Coalition, added: “Everyone should be able to have peace of mind in their own home, but Section 21 powers mean millions of private renters are forced to endure day-to-day insecurity, afraid to even ask their landlord for basic repairs for fear of eviction.
“The statistics released today show the urgency of ending Section 21 immediately as it grows as a cause of homelessness.
“It’s nearly six years this was first promised to renters under then-PM Theresa May, and every month without it happening sees more tenants out on the streets.
“Renters cannot afford to wait any longer – the government must get past peers holding up the bill.”
Seems strange that he wants to make Tenants homeless sooner. Some Landlords are holding on believing the the abolition of S21 won’t happen.
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Can EYE gather information as to the reason behind the service of Section 21 notices. I suspect the majority will be due to rent issues and poor tenant behaviour.
Also, 0.6% increase is hardly “significant”!
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Whole generation of boomer landlords selling up , with no one left to replace them..
Not sure how this ends tbf
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We hardly ever served a S21, but now it’s happening almost daily. Some Landlords are frightened of the Renters Rights Bill, have had enough, serving notice and selling up. It’ll stop once the bill is enacted.
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Another idiot with no idea of what he is talking about interfering.
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Lord Pillock would be a more appropriate title.
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S21 is not an eviction, it is notice that a contract is being brought to an end.
If the Government contract with Joe Bloggs to, I don’t know, vacuum all the chairs in the HoP every day, then decide that they are going to do it themselves/sell the chairs (or more likely in the case of Government) get their friend Jenny Blogger to do it for a price that is more benefit to them, they will give Joe notice they are terminating the contract, as stated in the contract terms.
If “they can’t end the contract as it will make people homeless” is what the Government are using as the excuse, I’d argue that no-one can be fired/made redundant/downsized etc as then they wont have money coming in and will be made homeless!
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But EVICTION is so much more emotive and help the anti-landlord cause.
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true… Truth goes out the window when politics gets involved unfortunately…
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Use it before you lose it.
The government have caused this.
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Matthew Pennycook, housing minister, reiterated yet again the private rental section is growing, not retracting. This being so Lord Bird should be happy there is more rental accommodation available for renters. All the large Estate Agent data including Web sites such as Zoopla have proven that landlords are selling their rental properties and reinvesting in companies with better returns and where their capital investment can be recouped. The government’s manafesto pledge of 1.5M new homes in 5 years has so far resulted in less new homes than the previous government. Introducing ever restrictive PRS legislation is leading to substantially less rental homes available. The rental sector continues to exist as the incomes and cost of living increases and makes buying a home impossible. There are many answers and solutions to the housing crisis but the government has yet to inact even one.
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