One year ago the government’s formal government consultation into abolishing Section 21 powers in the private rented sector concluded.

@andreyyalansky19 via Twenty20

Upon receiving the consultation’s findings the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced why it would be scrapping the Section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act: “Many tenants live with the worry of being evicted at short notice or continue to live in poor accommodation for fear they will be asked to leave if they complain about problems with their home.”

Once again Generation Rent, one of the leading groups to abolish Section 21 powers, stated it stops tenants from taking action to make sure their home is safe and fit for purpose. According to the charity Section 21 allows landlords to repossess their properties but must now take full responsibility in finding alternative accommodation for their tenants.

A statement from Generation Rent has just been released commemorating the anniversary and says: “The law is one of the leading causes of homelessness: 28,580 households were made homeless in 2019-20 after their landlord evicted them following a complaint by the tenant, or in order to sell or re-let the property. Section 21 prevents private renters from enjoying a stable home.”

Generation Rent claims its figures show that there are around 1.625 million families with children and 1.5 million households with someone who is 45 and older being housed by England’s private rented sector.

Since 2010 this older age group of renters has increased by 55% from 967.000 to the present 1.5 million, and the charity says that ongoing generations will find it virtually impossible to ever achieve home ownership.

Generation Rent demands the government must introduce its Renters Reform Bill, which includes scrapping of Section 21 now.