SG-ENERGYPLANS | Energy Performance Assessor East London | Domestic Energy Assessors | Rental Property Licence

Landlords warn ‘wave’ of evictions to come before rental reforms hit

Tuesday 5th July 2022

Melissa Lawford

Tenants could be forced out before new rules banning Section 21 'no-fault' evictions are brought in

4 July 2022 • 10:00am
landlord eviction

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Plans to abolish “no-fault” evictions could lead to hundreds of thousands of landlords removing tenants before it becomes illegal, experts have warned.

The Government has said it will abolish Section 21 rules and fixed-term tenancies as part of the Private Rental Sector Reform white paper. However, landlords said this would lead to a wave of nearly 300,000 evictions before new rules are enforced, potentially leaving tenants homeless.

Landlords have already started reassessing their business models following housing secretary Michael Gove’s statement, even though the new laws are not in force.

Chris Daniel, of Possession Friend, an eviction specialist, said: “I wouldn’t be surprised if 20pc of landlords bring forward evictions. Tenants will be the collateral damage.” There are 1.5 million landlords in England and there could be 300,000 avoidable evictions if one in five landlords used Section 21 early.