13th
Nov 2024
Campaigners have raised alarms as landlords accelerate evictions ahead of the anticipated Section 21 ban.
Government data shows a surge in evictions carried out by bailiffs. The Labour party has committed to abolishing Section 21 evictions, with the ban expected to take effect by next summer.
Ministry of Justice statistics revealed that from July to September, 8,425 households in England received Section 21 notices, which is the highest in eight years.
This figure represents an increase compared to the same period last year and coincides with 2,830 households being evicted by bailiffs, a 23% rise from the previous year.
Housing charities are urging for the passage of the Renters’ Rights Bill to be drastically speeded up and stating that nearly 110,000 households have been evicted under Section 21 since Theresa May vowed to ban it in April 2019.
Crisis highlighted that the latest figures reveal the alarming reality that tenants continue to be evicted from their homes, facing the harsh consequences of housing insecurity and homelessness.
Chief Executive Matt Downie emphasised the urgent need for the bill currently in parliament to become law “as quickly as possible.”
He added: “No-fault evictions are one of the leading causes of homelessness. We need urgent action and stricter measures to protect people at risk of homelessness now and in the future.”
And of course Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, had to enter into the fray and commented: “With renters being marched out of their homes in their thousands, passing the Renters’ Rights Bill and closing the book on the gross injustice of no fault evictions can’t come soon enough.”
The Renters Reform Coalition’s Lucy Tiller stated: “Being forced to leave your home through no fault of your own is a disruptive and expensive experience that pushes many renters into hardship and even homelessness.”
A spokesperson for a trade body countered the charities’ claims and said: “Over the last year the number of possession claims brought using a Section 21 notice has fallen across England and Wales.
“With data from Rightmove pointing to record numbers of rental properties up for sale, the best way to help tenants is to encourage responsible landlords to stay in the market.”
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