Labour blasts government for breaking Section 21 promise

Labour blasts government for breaking Section 21 promise

8:51 AM, 6th July 2023, About 10 months ago 10

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The government has been criticised by Labour for failing to deliver on its pledge to end section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions.

First mooted by the Conservatives as part of its 2019 election manifesto, it was put forward in May as part of the Renters’ Reform Bill.

But during Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday, Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner said the government was ‘dragging its feet’ and giving ‘pathetic’ answers to Labour’s calls for urgent action.

She said no-fault evictions were ‘unfair and unjust’ and left tenants vulnerable to homelessness and insecurity.

Watch the clash in the Commons as Labour’s Angela Rayner tackles Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden.

No-fault evictions had gone up by 116% this year

Ms Rayner said no-fault evictions had gone up by 116% this year, and with mortgage rises being passed on by landlords, many renters are facing homelessness.

She asked the Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, who was standing in for Rishi Sunak: “Will [Mr Dowden] tell us if the Prime Minister has a spine now to stand up to the vested interests in his own party and finally deliver their promise to ban no-fault evictions?”

She added that Labour would introduce a renters’ charter to ban no-fault evictions, cap rents and improve standards in the private rented sector.

Mr Dowden claimed that the government would ‘continue to stand behind renters and support them’ and take ‘all necessary steps’, without specifying what those steps were.

He also said the government would bring forward the bill as soon as Parliamentary time allows.


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Comments

dismayed landlord

10:35 AM, 6th July 2023, About 10 months ago

Go on then!! 🤣🤣

Ian Narbeth

10:55 AM, 6th July 2023, About 10 months ago

What planet are Labour on? Have they not noticed the Renters Reform Bill?
The main reason tenants are "vulnerable to homelessness and insecurity" when they are evicted is a shortage of houses to live in and an increase in rents caused by numerous factors including interest rate rises and supply and demand. Making it harder for landlords to deal with anti-social tenants and those who don't pay their rent will mean fewer properties to rent. Doubling down on anti-landlord legislation will create a vicious circle.

Freda Blogs

11:12 AM, 6th July 2023, About 10 months ago

“ with mortgage rises being passed on by landlords, many renters are facing homelessness”.

So if landlords can’t afford the increased mortgage payments and the rent does not cover them and as a result the landlord is accruing greater debt, he could face homelessness/ bankruptcy himself? How is that fair or reasonable on the landlord?

Politicians seem to forget / ignore/ overlook that private rented sector landlords are not the same as the social sector with secure tenancies, and further, we have no financial obligation to subsidise tenants, particularly if we would be ruined financially ourselves.

Caroline Hall

11:41 AM, 6th July 2023, About 10 months ago

She is a nightmare. Interestingly Lisa Nandy has back tracked on a rent cap. But the question is who will have the relevant post in the new government. It may well be that they will devolve it to councils to decide. Once had a little squit around about what I needed to do to my house under new rules about 3 sharers. When I said I had decided against it and would just rent to a couple he flew into a strop and suggested I was depriving people of housing by my selfish attitude. And yes as a result many houses in the area started renting to two people instead of three. Rents remained stable. Have decided to sell up. Section 21 notice given.

Sam B

11:56 AM, 6th July 2023, About 10 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 06/07/2023 - 10:55
I would suggest sometimes labour is not even in planet labour as according to the article she said labour would cap rents and yet in the last week Reeves and Nandy both spoke out against measures against rents.

northern landlord

12:11 PM, 6th July 2023, About 10 months ago

Ms Rayner said “no-fault evictions had gone up by 116% this year, and with mortgage rises being passed on by landlords, many renters are facing homelessness”. Consider the implications of this statement. Ms Rayner seems to believe that banning section 21 will stop people in arrears being evicted. It won’t. Arrears are arrears. Defaulting tenants will just be evicted using Section 8 albeit at more cost and aggravation for Landlords.
Where Ms Rayners 116% figure come from and what does it actually mean given that a Section 21 notice does not have to be justified with a reason and that if the tenant complies and leaves without fuss officialdom is really none the wiser? I don’t think there is any official statistical breakdown for the reasons why Section 21 notices have been served in the past and what has changed for that incidence to be increasing now.
My personal view is that many landlords are using Section 21 while they still can as they just want to sell up and get out of the PRS because of the reform bill and what extra hassles might or might not be coming down the line that could essentially take control their own property away from them. The Government say there will be a notice period for the ending of Section 21. Will there be a tsunami of Section 21 evictions when it is announced and push comes to shove for landlords who want to get out but have been fence sitting in the hope their properties will become naturally vacant so they don’t have to evict good tenants?
I have been a fence sitter but after a bit of agonising have just served my first ever section 21 notice just because I want to sell. Hopefully it will get easier with practice.

Caroline Hall

12:18 PM, 6th July 2023, About 10 months ago

Reply to the comment left by northern landlord at 06/07/2023 - 12:11
Me too

Mick Roberts

12:39 PM, 6th July 2023, About 10 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 06/07/2023 - 10:55
Perfectly said Ian.

Reluctant Landlord

21:27 PM, 6th July 2023, About 10 months ago

Reply to the comment left by northern landlord at 06/07/2023 - 12:11
water off a ducks back when you realise the cloud of personal stress that's lifted when you do.

Time to think about No 1 for a change. The government don't give a stuff about tenants (clearly) so think of it as acting on their example shown.

Remember you are not social services nor a charity!

Caroline Hall

12:02 PM, 10th July 2023, About 10 months ago

Its rumoured that Angela Rayner is going to be the levelling up secretary. Heaven help all landlords

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