0:01 AM, 11th August 2023, About A year ago 36
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The number of no-fault evictions by bailiffs has risen sharply, according to new government figures.
The latest data from the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) shows the number of households removed from their homes by court bailiffs is up by 41%.
Between April and June this year, more than 2,000 households were evicted by bailiffs using a Section 21 no-fault eviction notice, up from 1,578 households since the same quarter last year.
According to the MOJ, more than 20,000 households have been kicked out of their homes by bailiffs since the government first promised to ban no-fault evictions in 2019.
The latest data reveals 24,060 households were threatened with homelessness as a result of a Section 21 no-fault evictions in the past year – up by 21% compared to the previous 12 months.
The figures also reveal that 7,491 no-fault eviction claims were brought before the courts between April and June. That is the highest recorded number since 2017, up 10% on January to March, and 35% higher than in the same period last year.
Polly Neate, Shelter’s chief executive, said: “With private rents reaching record highs and no-fault evictions continuing to rise, hundreds of families risk being thrown into homelessness every day.
“Landlords can too easily use and abuse the current system. Some will hike up the rent and if their tenants can’t pay, they will slap them with a no-fault eviction notice and find others who can.”
Shelter is now urging the government to prioritise the Renters Reform Bill when MPs return from their summer holiday in September.
Ms Neate said: “The Renters Reform Bill will make renting more secure, and for those who live in fear of the bailiffs knocking at their door, these changes can’t come soon enough.
“The moment Parliament resumes, the government must get rid of no-fault evictions which have made the prospect of a stable home little more than a fantasy for England’s 11 million private renters.”
Dan Wilson Craw, the deputy chief executive of campaign group Generation Rent, told the Guardian: “Renters are bearing the brunt of the cost of living crisis, with record numbers being evicted for rent arrears and increasing numbers being evicted so landlords can sell up or raise the rent.”
However, for the vast majority of landlords serving a Section 21 notice is usually a last resort.
As a recent Property118 investigation reveals when tenants are at risk of homelessness the local authority has a duty to try to prevent homelessness from happening and should be working together with the landlord.
The NRLA said one reason for the rise in tenant evictions was a rise in landlords selling up.
Chris Norris, the NRLA policy director, told the Guardian: “Tax changes designed to dampen the supply of homes to rent, coupled with ever-growing costs and uncertainty over planned reforms is pushing many simply to leave the market. In many instances they are forced to take back possession of their properties.
“The best way to prevent repossessions is to ensure landlords have confidence to stay in the market. That is why the government needs to rethink its tax hikes on the sector and ensure that its renters reform bill has the confidence of responsible landlords every bit as much as tenants.”
john thompson
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Sign Up19:06 PM, 15th August 2023, About A year ago
Reply to the comment left by Gromit at 15/08/2023 - 18:23
Could be intentonal, I've read many different opinions as to why, no concrete proof. One is to get big corporations taking over the PRS seems more likely, but are they really interested in little mom and pop rentals? I really can't understand why they seem so intent on alienating landlords who are mostly tory voters, all for tennans who will still never vote for them.
At the end of the day all I really care about is the affects on my rights, finances, retirement and piece of mind, and this latest idiotic decision will affect all of that. I feel most landlords will extremely worried about this once the realisation of the possible consequences set in.
Gromit
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Sign Up21:00 PM, 15th August 2023, About A year ago
Reply to the comment left by john thompson at 15/08/2023 - 19:06
Lloyds Bank have stated that they want to acquire 50,000 properties over the next 10 years.
https://www.ft.com/content/e9dc9617-f059-4de6-b43a-d5e9978d8c0b
....and how will be re-possessed houses??
Is this a conflict of interest controlling mortgage rates and repossessions?
GlanACC
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Sign Up21:11 PM, 15th August 2023, About A year ago
Reply to the comment left by Gromit at 15/08/2023 - 21:00
A mere drop in the ocean, if big corporations are to take over properties for 4,000,000 tenants will be needed. The small BTL landlord has nothing to fear from the big corporations.
Gromit
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Sign Up21:19 PM, 15th August 2023, About A year ago
Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 15/08/2023 - 21:11
I've heard Legal & General have similar plans, and that some of the big foreign property owners, like Grainger, are also intending to enter the UK market.
I agree it's not going to happen overnight, but you can bet your bottom dollar they're lobbying Government hard for concessions and subsidies, and for more regulation & taxation of small private Landlords.
GlanACC
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Sign Up22:14 PM, 15th August 2023, About A year ago
Reply to the comment left by Gromit at 15/08/2023 - 21:19
I can't see that happening either as an increasing number of small landlords (me included) are incorporated LTD companies, and its would be very difficult to legislate for only those types of companies which they could (and have done) for non incorporated businesses.
Gromit
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Sign Up22:27 PM, 15th August 2023, About A year ago
There's still a million or more small Landlords with 1 or 2 properties for whom incorporating isn't worth it (yet)!
Over regulation can also be too burdensome for even small incorporated Landlords.