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10:00 AM, 12th October 2022, About 2 years ago 26
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News that the government is looking to ‘shelve’ its plans to abolish Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions has led to more organisations making their feelings known.
The report in yesterday’s Times saw several organisations expressing an opinion – and more have now joined the fray.
Alicia Kennedy, of the campaign group Generation Rent, said: “No-fault evictions mean that families can face the disruption and upheaval of moving home and often schools with just two months’ notice.
“It means unscrupulous landlords can bully tenants into accepting shoddy conditions or unaffordable rent increases. This law has no place in modern society.”
Rachael Sinclair, Nationwide’s director of Mortgages and Financial Wellbeing, said: “If the government fails to push ahead with the proposals outlined in the Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper, it will miss a vital opportunity.
“Rental regulations are crying out for an overhaul and now is the time to act as the cost-of-living crisis further exacerbates the challenges facing the sector, primarily poor conditions.
“Dropping the proposals at this point is short-sighted and will only add to people’s concerns during what remains a worrying time for many.”
Osama Bhutta, the director of campaigns at Shelter, said: “Make no mistake, a government U-turn on banning no fault evictions will pour fuel on the housing emergency and make thousands homeless.
“The Prime Minister has no mandate to shred manifesto commitments and turn her back on 11 million private renters. Nor does she have the right to betray over a million households stuck on social housing waiting lists by slashing the already tiny number of social homes that get built.”
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has also expressed its anger that the Government could shelve plans to abolish no-fault evictions.
Ross Matthewman, the head of policy and campaigns, said: “This is incredibly bad news for renters.
“It’s been a long three years since the Government first announced its intention to ban no-fault evictions, and the measures outlined in the Queen’s Speech earlier this year pointed to real progress.
“Reports that these proposals could now be dropped are deeply worrying.”
However, Mary-Anne Bowring, the group managing director of property management firm Ringley Group, said: “Ending no-fault evictions will have been another blow for buy-to-let landlords, who are already facing a tightening noose of red tape and eroded returns thanks to a raft of regulatory and tax changes combined with rising interest rates.
“As a result, many are looking to sell up and leave the market, reducing the supply of available properties at a time of heightened demand.
“With a weakening sales market, rental demand is only likely to increase further.”
Tenants’ union Acorn described the plan is an ‘absolute disgrace’.
On Twitter, the group said: “The union has campaigned for section 21 evictions to be scrapped for years as part of the Renters Reform Coalition.”
The group’s vice chair Jonathan Hardy tweeted: “This is an extremely dangerous move from PM Liz Truss, which once again shows that she is just interested in looking after the richest in society.
“Acorn and the rest of the housing movement will not take this lying down. We will be mobilising to fight for the safe, secure and affordable homes everyone deserves.”
Nimrod Ben-Cnaan, the head of policy at Law Centres Network, said: “The government says that it wants to support people through the cost-of-living emergency. Its actions, however, say the opposite, and louder.
“By shelving plans to end section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, it is leaving millions of private renters to fend for themselves this winter, as bills and rents increase.”
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Monty Bodkin
10:25 AM, 12th October 2022, About 2 years ago
Shock!
Left wing pressure groups don't like Tory values.
John Hynd
11:05 AM, 12th October 2022, About 2 years ago
If a tenant is a decent person, keeps the property in a clean and tidy condition, pays their rent on time and shows no ASB traits then why would any LL want to evict. It seems that all these left wing pressure groups are somehow missing the point. Surely it’s time for decent landlords to be given a voice?
David Nichols
11:26 AM, 12th October 2022, About 2 years ago
Section 21 had real advantages for tenants that Gen Rent etc cannot see. It meant landlords could give non perfect tenants a chance of a property using trust and gut feeling rather than looking only for paper model tenants. Meaning those with ccjs, universal credit top up, no guarantor, new job, lack of references or renting history could still find property.
Removing section 21 is becoming too big a risk for many landlords in finding a rogue tenant that so many have already chosen to sell up hence more section 21s used currently and less available property on the rental market. Removing section 21 may feel to some tenants of better security but in reality leads to less properties available, increasing rents, and making it near impossible to rent a property unless you are seen as a model tenant on paper.
Finally Torys can see the "Effect of unintended consequences ". Shame the media can't see it.
Gromit
11:34 AM, 12th October 2022, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by John Hynd at 12/10/2022 - 11:05..to sell-up or have a close family member move in.
which should be the right of a Landlord as the owner of the property have.
Obviously, its not down to the tenant in these circumstances and perhaps some commpensation ought to be considered.
Just playing devil's advocate.
David Judd
11:50 AM, 12th October 2022, About 2 years ago
With interest rates rising also, what about the landlords? Tenants who pay their rent, keep the property in good condition need not worry about being evicted.
The Forever Tenant
11:56 AM, 12th October 2022, About 2 years ago
Unfortunately we do need to worry.
It's a damn shame that no matter how good I may be as a tenant, I could be asked to leave this property for reasons completely unrelated to myself.
This could be a home in which myself and my family have made memories but with a couple of months notice, be asked to move on with all the stress that entails.
I have unfortunately seen this happen repeatedly over the years. Good people will be asked to move without any indication that it's coming.
It is horrible to have it constantly in the back of your mind, that where I live right now cannot be my home.
DGM
12:33 PM, 12th October 2022, About 2 years ago
Beware, at PMQ's today Labour asked will the Government stop no fault evictions and Liz Truss got up and said YES, so as usual government speak with forked tongue.
Also NRLA were on BBC news this morning and didn't do a good job in defending landlords, he could of said a lot more to defend us rather than agree.
Paul Essex
12:34 PM, 12th October 2022, About 2 years ago
Yes the 'fault' may actually lie elsewhere, licencing, lack of court support, too low return on investment, petty local officials etc.
Or other factors such as retirement of landlord.
We are not a charity so it is unrealistic to think you can have a home for life at an unsustainable rental.
Monty Bodkin
12:34 PM, 12th October 2022, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by The Forever Tenant at 12/10/2022 - 11:56
Negotiate a longer fixed term then.
Kevin Fallon
13:02 PM, 12th October 2022, About 2 years ago
At some point, the state needs to step away, too many do Golders essentially trying to make private landlords the oil rags of the housing market. Social housing has been run down and sold off , successive governments have failed to address the housing crisis and in the process demonised the private landlord. We're not a charity and we pay tax through the nose to hopefully build something. There are too many people with every right and no responsibility clinging to the governments apron strings, enough now, its gone too far. Whatever happened to family looking after there own, religious organisations helping out, no excuse for the government to bail everyone out. Benefits should be an existence not a lifestyle choice, work is not a swear word.