Protestors gather outside Michael Gove’s home to demand an end to Section 21

The London Renters Union has been slammed as a ‘rabble rousing group’ by the NRLA’s chief executive Ben Beadle after it protested outside the home of housing secretary Michael Gove.

On X/Twitter, the Union said: “We’re outside of Gove’s front door serving him a GIANT EVICTION NOTICE!

“Gove has shown more interest in protecting landlord profit than protecting families from homelessness.

“It’s time to kick the landlord lobby & their mates in government out!”

The event coincided with the fifth anniversary of the introduction of the Renters (Reform) Bill.

‘People are being forced out of their homes’

Its statement continued: “While Gove lives rent-free in a £25 million grace-and-favour luxury home near Buckingham palace, 100,000s of people are being forced out of their homes from section 21.

“We’ve had enough of broken Tory promises.

“End section 21 now!”

The giant sign the protestors carried said:

“Eviction Notice: Dear Michael Gove,

“England’s 11 million renters need control back over their homes.

“It’s time to kick out the landlord lobby and put renters first.”

‘Solution that gives renters security and landlords confidence’

But Ben Beadle the National Residential Landlords Association hit back on X/Twitter: “I think Michael Gove has been trying to find a sensible solution that gives renters security and landlords confidence. Any other outcome will dramatically worsen the situation for renters.

“The reality is, #rentalreform will not resolve the substantive issue at play that these folk complain about: high rents and under supply of homes. New homes of all tenures and pro-growth tax measures will.

“The sooner rabble rousing groups that find it acceptable to drop in to MP’s homes realise that pragmatism and practical solutions must trump nonsense ideologies, the better.”

Landlords using a ‘cruel’ section 21 notice

The Union put up another video of ‘Natasha’ who complained yesterday that people are being evicted by landlords using a ‘cruel’ section 21 notice.

She complains that tenants who can’t pay their rent are ‘slapped with a section 21 notice.’

Mr Beadle said: “I am sympathetic to the plight of #renters – but this issue is being conflated. The lady herself gives the example of not paying rent and being ‘slapped with a section 21’.

“So, ignoring the fact it is not a ‘no fault eviction’ and very much a ‘fault’ if you have arrears – the real issue complained about is unaffordability. This will only be resolved by:

– increasing housing supply of homes to rent, social and private

– pro-growth tax measures that encourage investors to remain and invest

– an annual uprating of LHA

“The reality is that abolishing section 21 will not help with any of this.”

‘More homeless than we currently have’

One Landlord responded to the London Renters Union with: “Ending S21 now without court reform will see far more homeless than we currently have, you don’t seem to realise just how hot the fire you’re playing with is!”

And Cash Flow King said: “You want control then you save up and buy ur own homes. Without Landlords there will be 11 million homeless then you’ll have something to cry about.”

If you have an X/Twitter account, this is a video of the protest: https://twitter.com/i/status/1779811482542252175

Share This Article