All over England, tenants are continuing to suffer from the impacts of these no-fault eviction notices – or section 21 evictions. These eviction notices enable landlords to evict tenants with no explanation, putting renters at risk and frequently in horrifying real-world scenarios. Recent high-profile cases from Leicestershire, Exeter and Sheffield have shone a light on increasing fears on this matter.
In Leicestershire, Alice, who rents a three-bedroom house for £900 a month, received a section 21 notice after she raised safety concerns about her family’s home. Alice had intended to reach out with her local council and be a part of solutions to these issues when the eviction notice came. She suspects that her eviction could be a result of “revenge eviction,” where landlords retaliate against tenants for requesting necessary repairs.
In Exeter, Sarah Ladyman faced similar challenges. Despite having lived in her home for three years and never missed a rent payment, she was served with a section 21 notice. This occurred in the shadow of her landlord attempting to increase her monthly rent by £125 from £775 to £900. Ladyman was vocal about her sense of displacement, saying, “I’ve never missed a rent payment. I feel so victimized.
Back in Sheffield, Ryan and Sophie were going through their own troubling ordeal. Only one week after reporting these leaks in the guttering of their privately rented three-bedroom terrace house, they then got a section 21 notice. They share this house but it costs them £900 each month. According to Ryan, that notice was a surprise which he called “totally out of left field.” He shared his ongoing struggles with mental health, noting, “I live with depression, anxiety and OCD,” during an already challenging period as he approached the final weeks of his nursing degree.
These stories are not isolated incidents. Since July last year, over 30,000 tenants in England have been served with no-fault eviction notices. The current legal framework allows private landlords to evict tenants without providing justification, raising significant concerns about tenant rights and housing stability.
Calls for reform have only gotten louder in the wake of abuse scandals. In 2019, Conservative Party goes on record supporting the ban on no-fault evictions. Unfortunately, attempts to amend the law have consistently died since then. Labour were elected on a manifesto commitment to end no-fault evictions within the life of the next parliament. This gap in nationwide political will has only deepened the polarizing national debate surrounding protections for tenants and accountability for landlords.
The lack of action showcases the embarrassing and urgent conflict of interest at play within Parliament across the aisle. Ryan Bramley pointed out that many MPs and members of the House of Lords are landlords, complicating efforts to push through meaningful reforms. In doing so, he called out a big, dangerous conflict of interest. This might explain why many MPs and members of the House of Lords are themselves landlords.
The fight for tenant rights and housing security continues. At the same time, just like no-fault evictions experienced by Alice, Sarah, Ryan and Sophie, the continuing crisis underlines the need for law to change as soon as possible. Many advocates argue that without stronger protections for renters, individuals will continue to face undue stress and uncertainty in their homes.