The London Assembly is urging the government to repeal laws that they say allow landlords to evict tenants for no reason.
Members voting for the measure claim Section 21 no-fault evictions lead to insecurity and stress for private tenants in the capital and can stop them complaining about poor living standards in their homes.
The demand was put forward to London Mayor Sadiq Khan in a motion passed by 12 votes to five.
Sian Berry, the assembly member who proposed the motion said: “The assembly has firmly put its weight behind Generation Rent’s campaign to end Section 21.
“London renters need to feel secure in their homes and know they can’t be thrown out on the streets for no reason. I’ve known far too many friends and colleagues forced to move out of their homes at short notice at times when they would least choose to move.
“Having to move at short notice is one of the worst parts of being a private renter and ending Section 21 would make a dramatic difference and solve this problem – it would also align our policies with other countries.”
The motion was seconded by Tom Copley AM, who argues private rental rules were introduced more than 30 years ago and it’s time for an update.
“Only 1 in 10 Londoners rented from a private landlord when this law started. Now, more than a quarter do, including increasing numbers of families with children,” he said.
“It is unacceptable that landlords can use Section 21 to evict tenants for no reason. Private tenants deserve security to protect them from arbitrary or revenge eviction, the fear of which makes tenants reluctant to come forward to complain about substandard housing.
A Section 21 Notice is defined in Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988. The notice gives a landlord possession (after following the court process) of a private rented home at the end of a tenancy or during a rolling tenancy if the fixed term has ended. No reason for repossession is needed.
If this is passed it will be one of the last nails in the coffin for Landlords
We may need the property back for a number of reasons, we may want to move into it ourselves, we may want to sell it with vacant possession, I may want it to help out a family member or I may wish to refurb or develop it and since I own it I should have he right to decide what I want to do with MY property and when I want to do it 2 months notice could possibly be extended to 3 but that’s about it as that is more than sufficient notice
I would suggest that generally, providing a tenant or tenants pay their rent in a timely manner and also acted with due regard to neighbours etc then many Section 21 notices would not be issued. Unfortunately legislators continually fail to comprehend this.
Obviously, there will be Landlords who will wish to sell their “let” property or who need the property for their own needs. I would suggest that, both of these reasons are, in most cases, legitimate.
Once again, wouldn’t it be good if, just for once, the people who put in place legislation consider the aspect of the “Rogue Tenant” who runs up debt with the Landlord, Utility Companies, private and national companies and/or create havoc for neighbours etc , then moves on without informing the Landlord and/or others and then is able to hide behind the Data Protection Act!!.
I agree with both the comments above. Private Landlords (like us) will continue to targeted by PC politicians looking for positive media coverage and PR victories until we collectively do something about it. ‘Generation Rent’ has a membership of a mere 350! but is heavily funded by various social change organisations and charitable trusts. They are very good at media manipulation and influencing government decisions. Private Landlords appear to just shrug and moan a bit! I was not given my properties, I had to work 40 years to afford to buy them. I am unclear why some-one who ‘borrows’ a property to live in should have the same property rights as the property owner! Yet this is a founding principle of GR. Private Landlords need better PR. The ‘renters’ arguments are nonsense and dont stand up to any form of rational opposition, but they don’t have to as the Landlord’s view is rarely given air time or column space. E.G. When was the last piece of legislation that increased the responsibilities of a tenant? – I not been alive long enough to tell you! Yet there are many that would help improve the Private rental sector, making it safer, healthier, cheaper and more accessible.. for tenants!
I started renting out property in 1986, 3 years before regulated tenancies were ended. Until 1989, I could let only to companies, as those lets were not regulated. Prior to that, I spent 17 years living in London in the world of regulated tenancies, when it was possible only to rent a bedsit (shared bathroom facilities) or share with people who already had a regulated tenancy. The market for lettings to private individuals had completely dried up. (For the horrors of regulated tenancies see https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/11445/138295.pdf.) Meanwhile, landlords caught in the regulated trap watch as their life savings were reduced to nothing over the years, unable to raise the rent or evict the tenants, or even the offspring of deceased tenants.
Never mind that fact that most private landlords, like me, have worked hard and saved for 40 years to own their properties – the situation will return to the 1970s, when there were simply no properties available to let to individual people and families.
Does no-one in the government have the brain to understand this?
I was a reasonable tenant and landlord in UK through the 90’s without experiencing any of the “issues” I have read about from both sides. My life was just fine. Consequently, I’m not really sure why you have most of the recent landlord bashing legislation placed on the statute books?
I am now a landlord in the USA where we do not have any such legal restrictions, and, life here is like it was for me in the 90’s in the UK, just fine.
It’s the landlord’s property and as such they should really be able to do with it what they want, rent to who they want, for as long as they want, under a mutually agreed lease. The tenants rights and possession of the landlord’s property should end, in-line with what they agreed to in the the lease.
If the Section 21 is abolished, the result will be the destruction of the private rental market AGAIN. How can this be seen as helping folk who have to rent in that market?
Rather makes me think that the current Tory Government has morphed into a 1970’s Labour Government by stealth. Operating in a manner that can only be seen as an example of Fascism. You can own a business but the heavy hand of the State will dictate, how you run it, via regulation, and what you can earn from it, via Taxation. I feel “special” tax rates on rents will soon follow. All in the name of Social Justice i.e. wealth envy.
It saddens to say, that I am very glad I no longer in the UK. If it fails to free itself from EU yoke, you can look forward to a 30% VAT in addition to having no where to rent and paying 9 pounds a gallon gas, sorry petrol, to save you all from the perils of Climate Change. Not sure what melted all the ice from the last three ice ages. Maybe TRex farts…. LOL