Council leaders call for longer eviction notice periods to prevent homelessness
2 years ago | 83 comments
Lib Dems demand urgent Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions ban
12:02 AM, 4th March 2024, 2 years ago
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The Liberal Democrats are urging the government to act on its pledge to ban Section 21 no-fault evictions, as new data shows that homelessness has risen across the UK.
According to the latest government statistics, 35,760 people faced the threat of homelessness between July and September 2023, a 3.1% increase from the previous year.
Of these, 6,580 were issued with a Section 21 ‘no-fault’ eviction notice, which allows landlords to evict tenants without giving a reason.
The data also reveals that 109,000 families are living in temporary accommodation, a 10.3% increase.
Among them, 69,680 have children, a 12.8% increase.
The data also shows that rough sleeping has risen for the second year in a row, reaching 3,898 a night in Autumn 2023, a 27% increase.
‘Too many children without a place to call home’
Helen Morgan, the Lib Dem spokesperson for housing, said: “These heart-breaking figures show there are far too many children without a place to call home.
“It is disgraceful that the Conservative government has once again chosen to postpone its long-promised ban on no-fault evictions to save squabbling with backbench MPs.”
She added: “There are now more vulnerable people and children without a permanent roof over their head because of the government’s delay.
“It’s time Conservative ministers understood that homelessness is not a lifestyle choice – too often it is a result of the government’s shameful decisions.”
Promise to ban Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions
The Lib Dems blame the government for failing to deliver on its promise to ban Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions in the Renters (Reform) Bill, which was announced in 2019.
The housing secretary, Michael Gove, recently said that the ban would only be introduced once the courts are improved.
The Lib Dems are now calling on the government to fast-track the Bill, which would also introduce lifetime deposits and strengthen tenants’ rights.
The party claims that banning no-fault evictions would prevent more families from being made homeless through no fault of their own.
Tags:
Child Homelessness UK Concerns, conservative, homelessness, Homelessness Increase UK Statistics, Housing, Lib Dems Section 21 Ban Demand, Liberal Democrats, politics, Renters Reform Bill, Section 21 Eviction Notice Impact, Temporary Accommodation Crisis UK, UK
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Member Since November 2018 - Comments: 48
12:07 PM, 5th March 2024, About 2 years ago
They can’t force landlords to house people, they should be using the carrot not the stick.
It’s not private landlords responsibility to house people in this country, just as it’s not every other homeowners responsibility. We’ve had enough of being beaten by the Governments stick. It sounds like Labour and the Lib Dems stick would be even bigger and harder than the current Government’s.
It doesn’t matter how many articles they publish about S21 they can’t stop the exodus with bigger sticks because us landlords have a choice. We CHOOSE to stop taking this demonisation by putting our money elsewhere.
My last tenant is moving out in the next few weeks, luckily he’s moving out of his own account and I haven’t had to go through the courts with any of my tenants.
I’m quietly selling up and putting my hard earned money into refurbishments to sell. I and most landlords like me won’t appear on any statistics because the majority of our good tenants leave as quietly as we sell. We just quietly disappear. But as we quietly leave the PRS mysteriously there are more and more people housed in temporary accommodation. Our good tenants get whatever is left pushing the vulnerable out.
Every time I do up a property I have people desperately knocking on the door asking if I’ll be renting it out. My answer is a clear NO because I CHOOSE not to be a victim of Government policy, charity and media vilification, anymore.
It breaks my heart seeing the homeless on the news, the results of government meddling in the PRS, when I have empty properties whilst they’re being sold. So much for trying to improve things for tenants. There aren’t enough rental properties available so good tenants are fighting to rent what is available at increasing costs or keep the roof over their heads because they know they’ll be lucky to find another.
Will the last of us small landlords please turn off the lights?
Member Since March 2023 - Comments: 1506
12:56 PM, 5th March 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Zen at 05/03/2024 – 12:07
Look on the bright side, you could be in Scotland with the SNP capping your rents
Member Since May 2019 - Comments: 121
9:42 AM, 9th March 2024, About 2 years ago
Firstly, Helen Morgan is a featherweight within an non influential party. Only been elected less than 2 years and now spouting off as if she is an icon.
However sad the Liverpool cases are it must be noted that the onus is now on the Council to rehouse these unfortunates. The LL will no doubt have had SHELTER intervene and will be doing all they can to frustrate the legal intentions of the landlord who as previously mention is under no obligation to house anyone
Letting out properties either domestically or commercially is a lawful activity with conditions and contracts underpinning the enterprise.
The entrepreneur is proving a service albeit at a cost. He needs to be recognised as such and not vilified when a decision is reluctantly made not to continue the service for what ever reason .
Over to the LA to provide the service now. With so much money being spent on housing migrants etc we might just not have heard the end of this with SHELTER seizing the opportunity to exploit it.
Carchester
Member Since August 2016 - Comments: 508
12:16 PM, 9th March 2024, About 2 years ago
If there is a hung parliament you can bet Ed Davey will have his head up Starmer’s fundament as a supplicant for whatever Master drops off the table. As always, LibDem will swing with the wind.
A LibDem vote is for a Labour Government, like it or not.
Examine labour Policy, the Lib Dems may win a few seats but never form a government!
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 154
5:15 PM, 9th March 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 04/03/2024 – 16:25You appear to be missing Jon and Nora’s point. They are obviously issuing Section 21s while they still can……..”We had hoped that the new legislation which is being proposed woud give us the flexibility to be able to sell the property if the need arose, it appears that the proposed legislation will not provide this security for us”…….. I can echo those sentiments, as can most landlords. We are just about to issue Section 21s to the last 6 tenants we have for exactly the same reason. Issue them while we still can! Liberal Democrats, Shelter, Generation Rent and the rest of the garbage have no grasp of the law of unintended consequence.