Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions are ‘fundamentally unfair’

Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions are ‘fundamentally unfair’

9:41 AM, 21st February 2024, About 3 months ago 25

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Using section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions to remove ‘model tenants’ in a court of law is ‘fundamentally unfair’ and will ‘get worse’.

That is the opinion of Simon Harris, the chief executive of Citizens Advice Staffordshire North and Stoke-on-Trent, who spoke to Stoke-on-Trent Live about the latest data on ‘no-fault’ evictions.

He said: “It’s something we’re very concerned about. It’s the vast majority of eviction cases that we see.

“The problem is, if a private landlord followed the correct legal procedure, there is no defence.”

He added: “You can be a model tenant, pay every month, look after the property and not upset your neighbours but if a landlord decides for whatever reason they want you out, there’s nothing you can do.”

‘It’s fundamentally unfair’

Mr Harris told the news site: “It’s fundamentally unfair. In a cost-of-living crisis twist, lots of landlords see their rates going up and decide to raise the rent or are pulling out of the market altogether and sell the property.

“We’ve seen numerous cases where rent has gone up significantly and people cannot afford it.”

He continued: “A lot of landlords are re-letting at a high rent so it’s really difficult to find a property at affordable rent.

“No-fault evictions is a problem we can only see getting worse.

“The number of private tenants has gone up significantly – it’s the primary housing solution for people, it’s not a temporary stop gap anymore.”

‘Evict tenants using a section 21 notice’

Mr Harris was responding to new Ministry of Justice data showing that landlords in England started 8,399 court proceedings between July and September to evict tenants using a section 21 notice.

He says that this is the most common type of eviction that Citizens Advice in Stoke deal with and court proceedings to evict 40 tenants were started between July and September.

A Government spokesperson said: “Our landmark Renters (Reform) Bill offers better protections for tenants and gives them greater security than ever before to challenge poor conditions in their homes. We are abolishing section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions and redressing the balance between landlords and tenants.”


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Comments

Seething Landlord

19:45 PM, 21st February 2024, About 3 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 21/02/2024 - 19:10
"If rents weren’t affordable, the market would adjust. They may not be affordable to some people."

Absolutely, and the same applies to house prices.

Homes that are unaffordable to those who do not have the resources to buy or rent in the open market can only be provided by Government or charities, whether direct or by subsidy e.g. housing benefit, help to buy, grants to Housing Associations etc.

Seething Landlord

19:51 PM, 21st February 2024, About 3 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Denise G at 21/02/2024 - 19:44
No, his main point is that tenants are being evicted because they cannot or will not pay increased rent, which he regards as unfair.

Landlord Landlord

21:57 PM, 21st February 2024, About 3 months ago

Unfortunately people are missing the point. Tenants want the government to force property owners to only be able to give tenants secure tenancies in exchange for rent, anything else to them is deemed unfair. This will seriously devalue assets.

Better get out quick as winding back the clock to pre 1985 AST means sitting tenants and regulated tenancies.

There is huge risk that property owners might not be able to sell once you have a sitting tenant that you cannot evict.

Carchester

10:54 AM, 24th February 2024, About 3 months ago

The CAB is funded by the Government and as such will play the tune. They will not bite the hands that feed them.

Largely made up of numpties with limited intelligence and knowledge of the Legislature.

Frank Jennings

23:23 PM, 27th February 2024, About 3 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Michael Booth at 21/02/2024 - 17:18
Exactly, and there is the rub. Once they have rent arrears, and the time comes to evict the non paying Tennants, and you have arranged for the bailiff to evict them, what will they say to the bayliff?
They will say they have nowhere to go! The council won't rehouse them because of the rent arrears, and they will be put on the street if they are evicted.
The bayliff will then refuse to evict them, on the grounds that it would make them homeless. You are now stuck with none paying Tennants you can't evict!
What can you do now? You have run out of options!
All you can do is refuse to pay the mortgage and watch the train crash as the bank evicts the tennants and repossess your B2L house/home. You will then pay heavily via fees etc. before the ordeal is all over.

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