News

‘No-fault’ evictions banned in England under historic new legislation

"Renters have been let down for far too long."

Emily Sergeant - 11th September 2024

Some historic new legislation has now been introduced to ban ‘no-fault’ evictions in England, it has been announced.

Aiming to “level the playing field” between tenants and landlords, and set to provide greater protections and security from eviction for millions of renters nationwide, the new Renters’ Rights Bill has been introduced to Parliament today and it will ban Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions for new and existing tenancies.

The Government has also chosen to extend Awaab’s Law – named in memory of Greater Manchester toddler, Awaab Ishak – into the private rented sector under the new bill, as well as end blanket bans for those on benefits or with children.  

Banning Section 21 will reassure tenants, both new and existing, that they can challenge bad practice without the fear of retaliatory eviction, according to the Government, as it’ll mean landlords will need to provide a valid cause to end a tenancy early.

Nearly 26,000 households in England faced homelessness as a result of a Section 21 eviction just last year alone, shocking Government statistics have revealed.

“Renters have been let down for too long and too many are stuck in disgraceful conditions, powerless to act because of the threat of a retaliatory eviction hanging over them,” declared Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, as she unveiled the landmark new Bill today.

“Most landlords act in a responsible way, but a small number of unscrupulous ones are tarnishing the reputation of the whole sector by making the most of the housing crisis and forcing tenants into bidding wars.   

“There can be no more dither and delay.

Renters have been let down for far too long.

This Labour government is taking action where the Tories failed – introducing new legislation today.

Our Renters’ Rights Bill will end no fault evictions and give stronger protections to 11 million renters.https://t.co/9H6wCBDgTp

— Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) September 11, 2024

“We must overhaul renting and rebalance the relationship between tenant and landlord, and this Bill will do just that so tenants can be reassured this Government will protect them.”

Further measures announced as part of the new Renters’ Rights Bill include a ban on rental bidding wars, making landlords and letting agents legally required to publish an asking rent for their property and prevented from asking for, encouraging, or accepting any bids above this price, and also a ban on in-tenancy rent increases written in to contracts.

The latter will prevent landlords from implementing higher rents mid-tenancy, and only allow them to raise the rent once a year to the market rate.  

Read more:

• Coroner rules Rochdale toddler Awaab Ishak’s death was caused by mould in his home
• Government announces plans to crack down on ‘rogue’ social housing landlords as part of Awaab’s Law
• Plans to build 1.5 million new homes in England over next five years unveiled

The Government says the introduction of the new Renters’ Rights Bill is a “crucial step towards ending the housing crisis”.

Featured Image – Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)