The Prime Minister has announced proposals to stop private landlords evicting tenants at short notice and without good reason.
Here is all you need to know about the changes:
– Changes in favour of tenants
At present landlords can evict tenants at any time after the fixed-term contract has come to an end, and without specifying a reason.
Under the proposed reforms landlords will no longer be able to end tenancies in such a way.
The move would remove the threat of so-called “no-fault” evictions, which give tenants as little as eight weeks’ notice after a fixed-term contract has come to an end.
The proposed changes to the Section 21 process would effectively create open-ended tenancies.
Why are the reforms taking place?
The Government is taking action after reviewing evidence that suggests the Section 21 process is one of the biggest causes of family homelessness.
Theresa May said such evictions are “unfair” and private sector renters have the right “to feel secure in their home, settled in their community and able to plan for the future with confidence”.
How could landlords remove a bad tenant?
The Government said the reforms will be “balanced” by ensuring responsible landlords can get their property back where they have “proper reason to do so”.
But they will have to provide a “concrete, evidenced reason already specified in law” for bringing tenancies to an end.
Ending Section 21 evictions will transform the lives of England’s 11 million renters, giving them room to breathe and finally put down roots. One in four families privately rent, as do hundreds of thousands of older people. #EndSection21 pic.twitter.com/LyrsjzkBZf
— Shelter (@Shelter) April 15, 2019
When might the changes become law?
Communities Secretary James Brokenshire said a consultation will take place on the proposals.
How have the proposals been received?
Housing charity Shelter said the proposals represent “an outstanding victory for England’s 11 million private renters”.
Campaign group Generation Rent said the Government had “made the right decision”.
Shadow housing secretary John Healey said the pledge will not work if landlords can still “force tenants out by hiking the rent”.
Here’s my Assembly #Section21 motion last year – seconded by Labour with support from all but the Conservatives and UKIP. This rapid reversal in direction from the Government is a huge, huge win for renters’ power! https://t.co/zaaaex7CVG 2/3
— Sian Berry (@sianberry) April 15, 2019
David Smith, of the Residential Landlords Association, said the body recognised there were calls for change, but warned of “serious dangers” of getting such reforms wrong.
National Landlords Association chief executive Richard Lambert said property owners had to use Section 21 because they have “no confidence” in the courts to deal with possession claims “quickly and surely”.
