16:55 PM, 12th February 2024, About 9 months ago 21
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Housing Secretary Michael Gove has pledged to ban Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions in England by the next general election, which is due by January 2025.
No-fault evictions allow landlords to evict tenants without giving a reason, which campaigners say leaves renters vulnerable to unfair treatment and insecurity.
The Conservative Party promised to end this practice in its 2019 manifesto, but the Renters (Reform) Bill to implement it has not yet been passed by Parliament.
The government has also said that the court system needs to be improved before a ban can take effect, which has raised fears that the reform could be delayed for years.
However, in an interview with the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Mr Gove said he was confident that the ban would be in place by the next election.
He said: “We will have outlawed it, and we will have put the money into the courts in order to ensure that they can enforce that.”
The Bill would also limit the circumstances under which landlords can evict tenants in England, such as when they want to sell the property or move in themselves or a close relative.
Mr Gove said he recognised the need to deal with the ‘abuse’ of no-fault evictions by a ‘small minority of unscrupulous landlords’ who use it to increase rents or silence complaints.
He added: “It is the case that there are a small minority of unscrupulous landlords who use the threat of eviction either to jack up rents or to silence people who are complaining about the quality of their homes.”
Watch Mr Gove making his pledge to end Section 21 evictions:
Mr Gove also defended the government’s record on housebuilding, saying that it was taking action to increase the supply of homes in England.
The Conservative Party’s 2019 manifesto pledged to build 300,000 homes a year in England by the mid-2020s, but the latest figures show that only 234,397 new homes were added in 2022-23.
He said he was “doing everything I can” to persuade the Chancellor to invest more money in housing in the spring Budget.
He also revealed that the government would announce measures next week to make it easier to convert buildings such as office blocks and department stores into new homes.
There will also be incentives to developers to build on brownfield land to allow ‘tens of thousands of new homes’ to be built.
In response to Mr Gove’s pledge to end Section 21, Tom Darling, campaign manager of the Renters’ Reform Coalition, suggested the government had ‘dragged their feet’ on abolishing no-fault evictions.
He said: “We will hold the government to this commitment.
“We’ll also be making sure the government don’t give in to landlord attempts to gut the bill – if these evictions are banned in name only then the government won’t be getting a pat on the back from anyone.”
Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner, who is also the party’s shadow housing secretary, said: “These are yet more weasel words from Michael Gove after years of broken promises.
“Having broken the justice system, the Tories are now using their own failure to indefinitely delay keeping their promises to renters in the most underhand way.”
On X, formerly Twitter, the National Residential Landlords Association’s chief executive, Ben Beadle, said: “Renters will be provided with a legitimate reason under the new provisions – the reality is though, this Bill doesn’t address underlying causes why evictions might take place.
“Renter groups clearly want to stop landlords from selling up with a bonkers two year moratorium on landlords giving notice.
“Far better they join our calls to reverse tax changes and encourage investment into the PRS to give much needed supply.”
He added: “By encouraging investment, there will be more homes, less disruption and it will actually reduce rents. Their plans will only choke off supply further.
“Yes, of course, social housing is part of the answer – but we need solutions now, not in a decade.”
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Stella
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Sign Up19:32 PM, 12th February 2024, About 9 months ago
Reply to the comment left by rebecca anelay at 12/02/2024 - 18:17
I would love to get out now but I am told in my case it is best to wait a few years because of CGT
With 2 properties for rent right now I am being very picky.
The omens are not good for tenants and all this could have been avoided if so called charities and goverments had any clue about the workings of the PRS
Duncan Forbes
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Sign Up21:11 PM, 12th February 2024, About 9 months ago
It could be worse with CGT, tax Labour could put it up to 40% ,i have got out in August of this year £75K tax bill @28% after 3 hearings at court took me a year but luckly the left just befor the final hearing. Loss of S21
and the renters reform act ,Gas saga ect , to risky invesment you may never get the property back was my fear.
Disillusioned landlord
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Sign Up21:48 PM, 12th February 2024, About 9 months ago
Agreed, that is the big worry with all this and more so (if that is possible) when the looney left get in. I have 10 properties and all great tenants, but it only takes one to upset the applecart. If you are not 100% on top of your game with the paperwork you could be stuck as you say
We rarely increase rents as a matter of course, which I think now, as it has been said on this forum before, a big mistake, because my tenants will struggle to find alternative rentals at similar rents and may be more inclined to stretch it out. Selling up as they become vacant or perhaps using them for FHL (which has considerable tax advantages!) is a definite.
Old Mrs Landlord
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Sign Up22:01 PM, 12th February 2024, About 9 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 12/02/2024 - 14:18I can't share your optimism that Shelter etc. will cease the anti-landlord propaganda once the reason for eviction is manifest. Surely you realise the only reason innocent tenants have failed to pay their rent is that greedy, profiteering slum landlords have bled them dry with the extortionate rents they charge! Isn't it common knowledge that, every tenant cowers, dreading a "no fault" eviction notice from the day he moves in? Obviously, all any landlord wants is an empty property draining his resources and presenting an open invitation to squatters, looters and cannabis farmers.
Not that the government will escape Shelter's tirades either. When tenants realise they can still be evicted if, for instance, the landlord needs to sell or move into the property, Shelter will be there accusing politicians of failing to keep their promise to halt "no fault" evictions.
dismayed landlord
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Sign Up22:41 PM, 12th February 2024, About 9 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Disillusioned landlord at 12/02/2024 - 21:48
I have sold another today. 4 left. One in the court process- from last year. May take awhile yet as well!!☹️☹️All remaining 3 served notices. 2 wish to buy. If anyone wants to make comments on the benefits and pitfalls please feel free as this is new territory for me.
80% were sold to owner occupier.
Most reached more than the asking price
I pay CGT and accept it. I do have a Limited company but most were sold outside of that privilege umbrella- though the sayings were very marginal. Not really worth the aggro in my humble opinion.
I cannot wait to finish up and enjoy a stress free life. Too many unknowns to make BTL viable now. Too many blanket changes in policy to know what will happen in the future.
Anyhow back to the beach and a bit more Jamaica hospitality.
Ps yes I feel sorry for the tenants- but shelter etc and government are to blame. I would never be selling if it was not for the crap they have dished out to landlords.
Cider Drinker
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Sign Up9:23 AM, 13th February 2024, About 9 months ago
This is a serious problem with our democracy.
Governments need to appeal to as many people as possible in order to secure votes. It doesn’t matter what it costs future generations or any minority groups, such as landlords.
One man, one vote is nonsense. Maybe one owned property, one vote would see the country in better financial health. Drug addicts get the same voting power as an amputee soldier. A 100 year old in a care home gets the same vote as a 21 year old. It cannot be right.
Old Mrs Landlord
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Sign Up13:09 PM, 13th February 2024, About 9 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 13/02/2024 - 09:23If you are lobbying to rescind the 19th century Reform Acts and early 20th century enfranchisement you might like to reflect on how different conditions were then for the majority of the populace who were not part of the landed gentry or male patriarchy.
Southern Boyuk
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Sign Up9:44 AM, 14th February 2024, About 9 months ago
It is`nt just putting more money into the courts. There is not enough court time to cope. There are not enough judges, the judge population is aging and will also create a huge gap in resources compounding the problem. .
The law also needs changing so that councils and organisations like Shelter cannot pile on the burden to LL by further delaying the tenants departure after a court order has been granted. It’s a joke that tenants can extend beyond this order and bailiffs have to be brought in
Mick Roberts
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Sign Up16:31 PM, 17th February 2024, About 9 months ago
What do these people not understand.
If u stop a person having his/her property back, then you have no property. They don't provide the property in the first place.
This is what they are creating. A shortage which is hurting them. Tell u what, let's make it even harder for the Landlord-That should work shouldn't it. Dozo's.
dismayed landlord
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Sign Up19:41 PM, 17th February 2024, About 9 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 17/02/2024 - 16:31
It would be funny if not so blatantly obvious to everyone except shelter et al , tenants and politicians.