“We urge the Government to stay the course and abolish Section 21 notices to provide renters greater security.”
The number of no-fault evictions has increased by 23 per cent over the last year, the Local Government Association warns.
The latest mortgage and landlord possession statistics show that during 2023, landlord claims increased significantly across all procedures of repossession.
Between October and December 2023, 7,527 landlords in England began a claim through the accelerated possession procedure, otherwise known as a Section 21 notice or no-fault eviction. This represents a 23 per cent increase compared to the same period last year which saw 6,101 claims.
The LGA, which represents councils across England, is urging the Government to keep its manifesto promise and pass the landmark Renters’ (Reform) Bill, with the inclusion of an end to Section 21 notices, ahead of the next General Election.
The ending of a private rented tenancy is the most common reason for a household being at risk of homelessness.
At a time of acute housing shortages, where councils are spending £1.74 billion annually on supporting 104,000 households in temporary accommodation due to a lack of available social housing it is imperative the Government put an end to Section 21 notices which are known to increase the risk of homelessness.
Cllr Darren Rodwell, Housing spokesperson for the LGA, said:
“This Bill was designed to deliver a fairer, more secure, and higher-quality private rented sector, but continued delays leave over 4.5 million people living in the private rented sector in limbo.
“The removal of ‘no-fault’ evictions would be a significant step towards tackling our national homelessness crisis.
“We urge the Government to stay the course and abolish Section 21 notices to provide renters greater security.”