The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Committee has called upon the government to set a clear timetable for the banning of section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions and the overhaul of the court system. Section 21 allows landlords to evict tenants without providing a reason, a practice the government pledged to abolish through the Renters (Reform) Bill, recently reintroduced in the new Parliamentary session.
Chairman of the LUHC Committee, Clive Betts MP, expressed concerns over a potential ‘indefinite delay’ in the abolition of section 21 and criticized the lack of urgency regarding court reforms. Betts warned against the government merely ‘kicking the can down the road on private rental reform.’
The National Residential Landlords’ Association (NRLA) echoed these concerns, emphasizing that the courts are ill-prepared for the end of section 21, leading to delays of over six months in processing legitimate possession claims made by private landlords.
The Committee further criticized the government for misrepresenting one of its recommendations and attempting to deflect blame for the delays in the Renters (Reform) Bill. Michael Gove, during the debate, referred to an ‘indefinite delay’ based on the LUHC committee’s recommendation. However, Betts clarified that while the committee recommended court reforms, it did not propose an indefinite delay. Betts also refuted Gove’s accusation that the committee was responsible for hindering the bill’s progress.
Betts emphasized, “The government should be ensuring courts can fast-track claims instead of delaying private rental reform and making flimsy excuses for not introducing the provision to ban ‘no-fault’ evictions. Clarity and assurance are owed to tenants and landlords regarding the implementation of the Renters (Reform) Bill.”
The NRLA highlighted figures from the Ministry of Justice, revealing an average of nearly 29 weeks between a private landlord filing a legitimate possession claim and reclaiming the property through the courts. Ben Beadle, CEO of NRLA, stated, “The government needs to build confidence in the ability of the courts to handle legitimate possession cases promptly and fairly when section 21 is abolished. Little to no action has been taken despite warnings for many years about the necessary improvements to the justice system.”
In conclusion, stakeholders are urging the government to take swift action, addressing both the abolition of section 21 and necessary court reforms to ensure a fair and efficient process for both landlords and tenants.