In the UK, the government has recently announced plans to end Section 21 ‘no–fault’ evictions. They are moving quickly to put some muscle behind making this change a reality. This decision should arrive amidst increasing public awareness about tenant’s rights and housing insecurity. Section 21 gives landlords the right to evict tenants seemingly at random. This practice has led to more than 100,000 no-fault eviction court claims in England each year since 2010.
In the Commons, Labour’s new government will aim to use their first few days in government to bring forward their renters’ rights bill for its first reading. The bill would eliminate these forms of evictions, representing one of the most progressive changes to federal housing policy in decades. Former housing secretary Michael Gove – the architect of this initiative in its original form – would surely agree. He was under enormous pressure from landlords and Tory backbenchers which resulted in massive watering down of his original proposals.
The Labour government’s pledge to end Section 21 is the latest in a series of moves to improve rights for renters. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government made the statement on the forthcoming introduction of the renters’ rights bill. They underscored their desire to work with the sector during every step of the process. So we will get rid of section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions at pace. We’ll get rid of rental bidding wars to end the predatory practice of forcing renters to outcompete one another and strengthen renters’ abilities to fight back against harassment and dangerous conditions.
Beyond ending no-fault evictions, the bill would take much-needed steps to protect renters against other common injustices. One of its goals is to prevent landlords from requiring unreasonably high move-in costs. This campaign is a counterpart to similar positive reforms in places like Victoria, Australia. In Australia, Victoria responded to the bidding war trend by strengthening its own ban in 2023, mandating that properties must be rented at the advertised price.
Back in the real world, a Labour-commissioned independent review proposed capping rent increases each year to either consumer price inflation or wage growth. However, ministers decided against implementing such caps. Instead, they’ll be busy delivering Awaab’s law. This law establishes that landlords or their agents must make necessary repairs within 24 hours.
If these changes are adopted, landlords in England will soon be prohibited from evicting tenants without giving a reason. Nationally, this move is a big win for the case to protect tenants. It does put heat on the capacity of Britain’s already burning court system. Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, commented on this challenge: “The end of section 21 will leave the courts needing to process possession claims where landlords have a legitimate reason. Without reforms to ensure the courts process cases much more swiftly, they risk becoming overwhelmed, which will not serve the interests of tenants or landlords seeking justice.”
As Shelter’s chief executive Polly Neate has spelled out, we need impactful, far-reaching reforms. These changes will make renting safer and more affordable for all. She stated, “To make renting genuinely safer, secure and more affordable, the new renters’ rights bill must limit in-tenancy rent increases, extend notice periods and root out discriminatory practices that drive homelessness.”
As the federal government gets ready for the eventual introduction of this bill, landlords and tenants both walk on eggshells. This proposed legislation marks a historic turning point in housing law here in the UK. With housing affordability and tenant security at the forefront of political discussions, the outcome of this bill could reshape the rental landscape considerably.