“Factually incorrect, misleading and just plain wrong”

“Factually incorrect, misleading and just plain wrong”

9:04 AM, 15th August 2019, About 5 years ago 15

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Claims that landlords’ use of section 21 “no fault” eviction notices is the leading cause of homelessness in the UK are “factually incorrect, misleading and just plain wrong”, says the National Landlords Association (NLA) as they take their case to No. 10.

Research by the NLA, using the Government’s own statistics*, found that of 33,020 households assessed by local authorities between October and December 2018, just 11.8% (3,890) of those faced homelessness as a result of being served with a Section 21 notice.

The same data also showed that the top reason for losing the last settled home was because family or friends were no longer willing or able to accommodate them, which accounted for over 15,000 households.

The second most prominent reason was the end of an assured shorthold private rented tenancy. This includes tenancies ended using the fault-based Section 8 and tenants abandoning the property, as well as Section 21. 29% of these tenancies were ended due to rent arrears.

Previous NLA research** has found that landlords resort to Section 21 primarily when their tenants fall into rent arrears or engage in antisocial behaviour.

Richard Lambert, CEO of the NLA, says:

“Claims by the Government and tenant support groups that Section 21 is the leading cause of homelessness are not supported by the available evidence. They are factually incorrect, misleading and just plain wrong. No reasonable landlord would seek to evict a tenant without good cause.

“Most evictions are a symptom of wider issues, such as the freeze on local housing allowance, insecure jobs, and the lack of support for vulnerable tenants to sustain private tenancies successfully. The increase in the use of no-fault evictions through Section 21 is because landlords simply don’t have faith in the courts being able to deal with eviction cases, however justified their reason.

“That’s why we’re appealing directly to the Prime Minister to save section 21. Landlords are running businesses and have very few options when it comes to managing the risks they face. The focus should instead be on fixing the issues that contribute to this risk.”

*MHCLG Initial Assessments of Statutory Homelessness Duties Owned

**Research conducted by YouGov Plc on behalf of the NLA. Total sample size was 3,088 Landlords in England and Wales. Fieldwork was undertaken between 21st – 27th December 2018.  The survey was carried out online.


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Luke P

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13:54 PM, 16th August 2019, About 5 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Mark Alexander at 16/08/2019 - 13:04
The prime candidate for leading a Housing Court would be Judge Jan Luba QC (of Caridon/Monty Shooltz fame/infamy) as the so-viewed leading industry expert in Housing having written Defending Possession Proceedings manual...

Mick Roberts

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14:00 PM, 16th August 2019, About 5 years ago

Reply to the comment left by David Lawrenson at 16/08/2019 - 13:01
That's just it David,

I have a few trolls follow me on Twitter & Facebook when these things arise, they hate Landlords, want us all to sell, use Labour words Greedy wealthy Landlord, but they have no answer for me at all, when I say Where are the people gonna' live that CAN'T afford to buy a house.
Sometimes they say the Council will buy & build more in time when house prices come down, but that still doesn't help the millions of HB that will become homeless for 5 years waiting for IF they will build more.

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

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14:02 PM, 16th August 2019, About 5 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 16/08/2019 - 14:00
If prices come down, where will the margin that builders need come from? It’s a stupid argument, because lower prices will reduce development.

Mick Roberts

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14:20 PM, 16th August 2019, About 5 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Mark Alexander at 16/08/2019 - 14:02
Very good point, I need to remember that defence back at 'em.

AJR

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9:35 AM, 17th August 2019, About 5 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Jon at 15/08/2019 - 16:23
A ‘rapid rebuttal unit’ is exactly what we need. Great idea. Count me in for support/help.

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