Government scraps no-fault evictions

The government has banned private landlords from being able to evict tenants at short notice without good reason in England and Wales. Section 21 of the Housing Act previously allowed landlords to evict tenants without good reason – once informed, tenants had as little as two months to pack up and leave. In Scotland new rules requiring landlords to give a reason for ending tenancies were introduced in 2017. There are no plans in Northern Ireland to end no-fault evictions where a fixed-term tenancy has ended. Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation, said: “The build-to-rent sector has been at the forefront of offering longer tenancies. The principle of people feeling stable in their own homes is an important one and retaining residents is fundamental to the sector’s success. “The government’s proposal, however, is a radical step that will need a lot of careful thought, and support when it is implemented. “The detail in the grounds for possession will be important to get right, and while we recognise the need to prevent unfair evictions, professional landlords must not be prevented from ensuring that rent is paid, repairs can be made and antisocial behaviour is challenged.” Helen Gordon, chief executive at Grainger, added: “Grainger’s business model is built around retaining our residents. We already offer longer-term tenancies. What will be important is how additional grounds for possession will enable professional landlords to manage their communities well. This proposal is more targeted at shorter-term buy-to-let landlords.” To send feedback, e-mail anna.ward@egi.co.uk or tweet @annaroxelana or @estatesgazette