Reports government is ditching no-fault evictions ban and ‘betraying renters’

The government is considering another U-turn on an electoral promise which would scrap plans to ban no-fault evictions, leading critics to accuse them of ‘betraying renters.’  

Section 21 evictions allow landlords to evict tenants without a reason and give them as little as eight weeks’ notice to do so.  

Boris Johnson had originally promised to ban no-fault evictions back in the 2019 general election and former Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove had brought plans forward with a proposed Renters Reform Bill in May.  

But according to reports from The Times, the Prime Minister is now planning to ditch these plans as ‘they are not considered a priority.’  

In response the Shadow Minister for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook, wrote on Twitter: ‘Liz Truss has decided to betray renters. Labour will abolish section 21 “no-fault” evictions and strengthen tenant’s rights through a new renters’ charter.’  

Liz Truss has decided to betray private renters.

Labour will abolish section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions and strengthen tenants’ rights through a new renters’ charter. https://t.co/VExBA38BfK

— Matthew Pennycook MP (@mtpennycook) October 10, 2022

This is the government’s latest U-turn after the Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng was forced to abandon plans to cut the 45% of income tax paid by people earning over £150,000 after much backlash.  

No-fault evictions are considered a leading cause of homelessness in the UK, with homelessness charities reporting over the summer that they had tripled within a year.  

The latest government data released last month revealed that 19,790 households in England faced homelessness in the last year after receiving a no-fault eviction notice, a 121% increase compared to the previous year.  

Renters campaign group Generation Rent also responded to the news, saying: ‘The government promised private renters an end to unfair evictions. We have been waiting more than three years. It would be a horrifying betrayal to ditch the plans now, and more people will be made homeless as a result. Stick to your promise @trussliz.’  

Matt Downie, Chief Executive of homeless charity Crisis, said: ‘The cost of living crisis is already putting people under unprecedented pressure, leaving them struggling to cover the costs of rent and basic essentials. To be suddenly turfed from your home at a moment’s notice is only going to create a winter of misery and homelessness for thousands.  

‘To pull the plug on what should have already been brought into law years ago is shameful. The Government must realise that this is an epidemic that requires urgent attention. They must end no-fault evictions as soon as possible – or we’ll see thousands more people pushed into homelessness this winter.’ 

A Tory source has told the ITV the Prime Minister would face some opposition from her own MP’s if she were to go ahead with these reported plans.  

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