(Secretary of State for
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local
Government): You will have seen that last week I
announced reforms to the legislative framework governing how
private tenancies can be ended in England to improve security in
the private rented sector for both tenants and landlords. This
announcement followed my department’s recent consultation on
‘Overcoming the Barriers to Longer Tenancies’. I also published
the government’s response to this consultation.
The private rented sector has changed dramatically in the last
twenty years, and the sector needs to keep pace with these
changes. The number of people who live in the private rented
sector has doubled, and it is home to more families with children
and older people. These households need stability and security in
their home.
The current legislative framework leaves tenants feeling
insecure. They can be asked to leave their homes, with as little
as two months notice, without the landlord providing any reason,
using eviction proceedings under Section 21 of the Housing Act
1988. This sense of insecurity can profoundly affect the ability
of renters to plan for the future, to manage their finances or to
put down roots in their local communities.
The government intends to establish a fairer system for both
tenants and landlords by legislating to repeal Section 21 of the
Housing Act 1988. Bringing an end to so called ‘no fault
evictions’, would mean that a tenant cannot be forced to leave
their home unless the landlord can prove a specified ground, such
as rent arrears or breach of tenancy agreement. It would provide
tenants with more stability and protect them from having to make
frequent and short notice moves. It would also empower tenants to
challenge their landlord about poor property standards where this
occurs, without the worry of being evicted as a result of making
a complaint.
The private rented sector must also remain a stable and secure
market for landlords to continue to invest in. The legislation I
intend to introduce will include measures that provide landlords
with additional safeguards to successfully manage their
properties. We will strengthen the existing grounds for eviction
available to landlords under Section 8 of the Housing Act 1988.
This will allow the landlord to regain their property when they
want to sell it or move into it themselves.
It is important that landlords can have confidence that the court
system works for them in instances when there is no other option
but to seek possession of their property through the courts. That
is why this announcement includes improvements to court
processes, to make it quicker and smoother for landlords to
regain their properties when they have a legitimate reason to do
so.
Removing no-fault evictions is a significant step. This
announcement is the start of a longer process to introduce these
reforms. We want to build a consensus on a package of reforms to
improve security for tenants while providing landlords with the
confidence that they have the tools they need.
We will launch a consultation on the details of a better system
that will work for landlords and tenants. The government will
collaborate with and listen to landlords, tenants and others in
the private rented sector to develop a new deal for renting.
Ministers will also work with other types of housing providers
outside of the private rented sector who use these powers and use
the consultation to make sure the new system works effectively.
