More than 150 tenants from the same block of flats in Vive Living in Deptford recently received eviction notices just weeks before Christmas, ordering them to leave their homes within the next 2 to 4 months. As a result, councillors and the local MP, Vicky Foxcroft, have demanded a meeting with landlords, Aitch Group.
Aitch Group have claimed that the tenants are being evicted for refurbishment of the flats, however the tenants dispute this, with the building opening its doors just seven years ago.
Section 21 Evictions
More generally, figures from the Ministry of Justice show that 8425 households received a section 21 notice between July and September in 2024 – the highest number in eight years.
Thousands of landlords are currently rushing through no-fault evictions before Labour’s Renters’ Rights Bill comes into effect, which is scheduled to become law in the summer of 2025 and will ban this practice. Under the bill, landlords need to prove a ground for eviction before the property can be reclaimed.
Under the current law, section 21 notices allow landlords to evict tenants without a reason after a fixed term tenancy ends or during a tenancy with no fixed end date.
What other measures does the Renters’ Rights Bill introduce?
Apart from the ban of no-fault evictions, the Renters’ Rights bill introduces the following :-
- Ensure possession grounds are fair to both landlords and tenants;
- Provide stronger protections against backdoor eviction which ensures tenants are able to appeal excessive above-market rents;
- Introduce a new Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman;
- Create a Private Rented Sector Database;
- Give tenants strengthened rights to request a pet in the property;
- Apply the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector;
- Apply “Awaab’s Law” to the sector;
- Make it illegal for landlords and agents to discriminate against prospective tenants in receipt of benefits with children;
- End the practice of rental bidding by prohibiting landlords and agents from asking for or accepting offers above the advertised rent;
- Strengthen local authority enforcement; and
- Strengthen rent repayment orders
Our thoughts
The Renters’ Rights Bill will increase the costs for the landlords. It could be argued that this may eventually defeat the purpose of the bill to give tenants greater security and stability and avoid the risk of homelessness. The reason for this is that increasing numbers of landlords are considering selling their properties. This will reduce the supply of the rental properties in view of the new restrictions and significantly reduce the attractiveness of the buy to let. On the other hand, many would argue that the ability for landlords to use section 21 no-fault eviction notices greatly increases the threat of tenants facing homelessness in the first place, as demonstrated by the case discussed in this article.
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