MPs urge government not to delay ‘no-fault’ evictions ban

The government has been urged to commit to a timetable for banning section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions and reforming the court system by the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Committee.

Section 21 allows landlords to evict tenants without giving a reason and the government promised to abolish it in the Renters (Reform) Bill, which was re-introduced in the new Parliamentary session.

However, the LUHC Committee, chaired by Clive Betts MP, expressed concern that the abolition may be ‘indefinitely delayed’ and pointed to a lack of urgency on court reforms.

He also warned the government against ‘kicking the can down the road on private rental reform’.

And the National Residential Landlords’ Association (NRLA) has also says the courts are so unprepared for section 21 ending that it can take more than six months currently to process legitimate possession claims made by private landlords.

Criticised the government for mischaracterising one of its recommendations

The Committee also criticised the government for mischaracterising one of its recommendations and attempting to deflect the blame for the Bill’s delays.

During the debate, Mr Gove referred to an ‘indefinite delay’ to introducing the abolishing of section 21 – and said that was the recommendation of the LUHC committee.

However, Mr Betts has shot back saying that while the committee has recommended that the courts be reformed to deal with possession courts, it did not recommend an indefinite delay.

Mr Gove also implied that the Committee was responsible for holding up the Bill – another accusation that Mr Betts refutes.

‘Kicking the can down the road on private rental reform’

Mr Betts said: “The Government should be getting on with ensuring courts can fast-track claims rather than kicking the can down the road on private rental reform and seeking to make flimsy excuses for it delaying introducing the provision to ban ‘no-fault’ evictions.

“Too many tenants currently experience unfair evictions and insecurity of tenure.”

He added: “Rather than seeking to cast the blame elsewhere for delaying reform, including in the direction of our Committee, the government should be setting out a clear timetable for when it will implement the provisions of the Renters (Reform) Bill and ensure the legal system is fit to handle the consequences of the abolition of section 21.

“Tenants and landlords deserve that clarity and assurance.”

Takes nearly 29 weeks for a possession claim

The NRLA is pointing to figures published by the Ministry of Justice which reveals it takes an average of nearly 29 weeks between a private landlord making a legitimate possession claim to the courts and getting the property back.

The organisation’s chief executive, Ben Beadle, said: “Responsible landlords and tenants need to be confident that the courts will handle possession cases swiftly and fairly when section 21 goes. At present that is not happening.

“Ministers have been warned for many years that improvements to the justice system have been needed.

“It is disappointing therefore that little to no action has been taken to address this so far.”

He added: “The Government needs to get on and build confidence in the ability of the courts to handle legitimate possession cases.”

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