Shelter attacks large rise in Section 21 evictions

Shelter has attacked Section 21 evictions as the leading cause of homelessness. 

Chief Executive, Polly Neate, has highlighted the 143% rise in ‘no fault evictions’ recently revealed by new government figures. Up from 792 households between Oct and Dec 2021 and 1,924 between Oct and Dec 2022.

The figures on repossession and evictions released by the Ministry of Justice show 6,101 landlords in England started Section 21 eviction court proceedings between October and December 2022 – up 69 per cent in a year.

‘No one wants to be forced out of their home’

Polly Neate said: “Every eviction notice that lands on someone’s doormat brings with it fear and uncertainty. No one wants to be forced out of their home, but these court figures show that’s happening to more and more private renters in this country.”

She added: “The chronic lack of social homes means the demand for overpriced and unstable private rentals has ballooned, and more people are being pitted against each other in the hunt for a home.

“Every day we hear from desperate families who’ve been served with no-fault eviction notices for daring to complain about poor conditions, or because their landlord wants to cash in on rising rents.”

Additional taxation rules are going to raise the cost for landlords

Despite the apparent large rise in these figures, other factors are at play.

An eviction ban (due to Covid) which was in place between March 2020 and May 2021, reduced the number of cases being heard by the courts and created a massive backlog.

A large amount of upcoming government legislation including a proposed ban on Section 21 evictions, Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) and additional taxation rules are going to raise the cost for landlords.

A report, carried out by Foundation Home loans, also revealed that landlords were more likely to sell a property rated D-E over the next 12 months.

This will decrease the number of private rented homes available and make the problems of homeless even worse.