2nd
Oct 2024
A representative from the Renter’s Reform Coalition, who has been involved in government discussions with tenant and landlord groups, claims that landlords have made a ‘veiled threat’ to evict tenants.
Tom Darling, the head of the organisation, revealed that during one meeting, landlords indicated they would use Section 21 possession notices before the Renters’ Rights Bill comes into effect.
Labour has stated that once the Bill becomes law, it will immediately ban Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions without waiting for the court backlog to clear.
According to Darling, landlords warned Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook that a ‘wave of evictions’ would occur before the law is passed.
Speaking to the Metro newspaper, Darling described landlords’ actions as a bid for ‘one last arbitrary eviction just to feel something.’
He shared this at a fringe event during the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, noting that he found the comment ‘remarkable’ and indicative of why Section 21 needs to be abolished.
Darling criticized the current situation, stating that landlords feel empowered to issue such threats. He also pointed to social media and landlord forums where threats to evict tenants before the abolition of Section 21 are being made, calling this behaviour ‘slightly psychotic.’
The fringe event was organized by the Renter’s Reform Coalition following Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner’s announcement that the Bill would ‘rebalance’ the private rented sector.
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