The indefinite postponement of the ban on “no-fault” evictions in England has been announced, the implementation of which is now saddled on the government’s vow to introduce several improvements to the court system. Critics, including the Labour Party, accuse the government of merely shovelling the already much-delayed proposals further into obscurity, and warn legal reforms could run on for years.
Since 2019, government personnel, in particular, Michael Gove – the Housing Secretary – have hinted at efforts to revoke landlords’ rights to issue evictions to tenants without required justification. The Renters Reform Bill, a law first put forth to the public in May, aims to outlaw no-fault “Section 21” evictions. This proposed regulation was recently the subject of a debate in the Commons. A series of improvements within the court system must be seen through before the enactment of the eviction ban, Mr Gove has said, a commitment he has communicated directly to the Conservative MPs.
The government, however, stands accused of backing down to avoid conflict with the Tory MPs that oppose the proposed legislation, according to Labour’s representative, Angela Rayner. In a slight to Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, Rayner suggested he needed to stand up to his own party, saying the government had betrayed renters with a “grubby deal”.
The ongoing housing legislation known as Section 21 permits landlords to evict tenants who exist on non-fixed-term contracts without a necessary reason. The newly proposed government bill is aiming to convert all tenancies into “rolling” contacts with no definite end date, allowing for eviction under specific circumstances only, this may include a need for the landlord to sell or initiate a personal move into the property.
Despite Labour’s support for the abolition of Section 21, Angela Rayner cautioned that the proposed reforms for the courts are not rapidly forthcoming and could leave renters at risk of eviction. She revealed Labour’s plan to help the bill pass, but will argue for an extension of the new proposed six-month notice period for evictions.
The previously mentioned Renters Reform Bill now promises to phase out Section 21 eviction only after gaining certainty of “sufficient progress” within the courts system; a claim that remains blatantly open-ended as Downing Street failed to attach a definite timeframe to the proposed amendments.
The hold-up in reform implementation was addressed by No 10 spokesperson, who reiterated that from the start, the plan was to stage the enacting of these changes over time, with no strict timetable set. This prompts the question of when these much-needed reforms will actually fall into place, leaving renters in an anxious limbo.
In response to these unfolding events, Tom Darling, Campaign manager of the Renters’ Reform Coalition, criticised the government’s decision as an “ill-defined ‘court reform’” and a last-ditch attempt at preserving the unity of the Conservative Party. He questioned the government’s actions since its 2019 promise to end no-fault evictions.
The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) expressed concern that the escalating uncertainty will make planning challenging for both landlords and renters. Ben Beadle, the Chief Executive of NRLA, warned that if the bill fails to assure landlords, a housing shortage could ensue, ultimately disadvantageous to renters.
While the government debates potential legal reforms and their implications for the rental market, it remains crucial for both landlords and tenants to understand their rights and responsibilities– a delicate balance of power that plays a vital role in the country’s housing structure.
