Government must deliver on unfair evictions commitment without delay
Responding to today’s announcement from the Prime Minister on ending unfair ‘Section 21’ evictions for private renters, Hackney Council’s Mayoral Adviser for Private Renting and Housing Affordability, Cllr Sem Moema, has called on the government to ensure these changes are implemented as soon as possible.
The government today outlined plans to consult on new legislation that would mean private landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants from their homes at short notice and without good reason - called Section 21 evictions.
Pushing for a change in law to prevent Section 21 evictions has been a key part of the Council’s #BetterRenting campaign, with the Council joining Generation Rent’s End Unfair Evictions initiative.
I’m delighted to see the Prime Minister acknowledging the issues raised in our #BetterRenting campaign and abolishing these unfair evictions – which simply push families in Hackney into homelessness.
Our borough’s 34,000 private renters deserve better, and they will be anxious to see these changes implemented as soon as possible.
While today’s announcement is welcome, the Government must now deliver on this commitment without delay, setting out a clear timetable for legislation that does not allow landlords to wriggle out of their responsibilities with legal loopholes.
Research by Generation Rent has shown that Section 21 evictions are the leading cause of homelessness in England. With over 30,000 households in Hackney renting privately, nearly one in three Hackney residents are vulnerable to eviction with little notice and through no fault of their own.
The government's announcement is the latest success in the Council's #BetterRenting campaign, which has already seen a ban on lettings fees for renters and expanded licensing to tackle rogue landlords in Hackney.