Charities have cautioned that the UK government’s proposed ban on no-fault evictions in England is insufficient. These groups have written to Housing Secretary Michael Gove, urging him to bolster the legislation currently under consideration in Parliament. They argue that without amendments, tenants will continue to face unjust eviction threats. The government maintains that the bill will create a more equitable private rental sector for both landlords and tenants. However, some Conservative MPs are concerned that the Renters (Reform) Bill could lead landlords to sell their properties, thereby reducing the number of available rentals. The bill stipulates that landlords can only evict tenants under specific circumstances, such as selling the property or moving in themselves or a close family member.
The Renter’s Reform Coalition, a group of charities and organisations representing private renters, has called for longer notice periods for evictions, protection from eviction for two years at the start of a tenancy, and a higher evidential threshold for landlords seeking to evict tenants. Without these changes, they argue, tenants will continue to face unfair evictions, frequent and costly moves, and feel unable to demand basic standards from their landlords.
The government pledged to ban no-fault evictions in their 2019 general election manifesto. The proposed legislation began its journey through Parliament in October but has not yet been finalised. Polly Neate, CEO of housing charity Shelter, accused the government of being too lenient in the face of opposition from its own MPs. Some Conservative MPs have publicly criticised the bill and proposed amendments to strengthen protections for landlords.
The National Residential Landlords Association is advocating for improvements to the court system to allow landlords to reclaim their properties more swiftly when they have valid reasons. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities stated that the Renters (Reform) Bill will abolish section 21 evictions, providing greater security for tenants and empowering them to challenge poor practices.
