[Politics] No-fault evictions to be banned in reform of rental sector

[BirSaNN]

Landlords would be banned from evicting tenants with no justification as part of a long-promised overhaul of the private rental sector in England.

A new law tabled in Parliament would abolish no-fault evictions and end bans on tenants claiming benefits.

The bill would also make it easier for landlords to repossess properties from anti-social tenants.

Housing campaigners said the bill was a "huge opportunity" but warned it risked creating loopholes for eviction.

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Under the new law, tenants would be given the legal right to request to keep a pet in their home, which the landlord cannot unreasonably refuse.

The law would also make it illegal for a landlord to refuse tenancies to families with children, or those in receipt of benefits.

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The Conservatives promised "a better deal for renters" - including a ban on no-fault evictions - in its manifesto ahead of the general election in 2019.

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What is a no-fault eviction?
A key piece of housing legislation, known as Section 21, allows landlords to evict tenants without giving a reason.

After receiving a Section 21 notice, tenants have just two months before their landlord can apply for a court order to evict them.

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Under the reforms, landlords will only be able to evict tenants in certain circumstances, including when they wish to sell the property or when they or a close family member want to move in, after six months.

However, after a three-month period they will be free to put the property back on the rental market.

Housing charity Shelter is calling for these time periods to increase, and for the notice period for evictions to increase from two months to four months.

It also pointed out that under the current proposals, renters who receive a possession notice will no longer have the right to immediate help from their council to avoid homelessness.

The bill also makes it easier for landlords to repossess their properties in cases of anti-social behaviour or where the tenant repeatedly fails to pay rent.

Last year, research by Shelter, a housing charity, said nearly 230,000 private renters had been served with a no-fault eviction notice since April 2019.

Among those to be issued with such a notice was Sam Robinson and his family, partner Amy Herbert, and daughters Phoebe, 10, and Amelia, four.

link: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-65612842