Statutory homelessness soars as government continues to delay ‘no fault’ evictions ban
Official homelessness statistics published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities show the number of households made homeless due to the end of a private sector tenancy is surging, with the number of households threatened with homelessness following a section 21 notice jumping by 10% on the same quarter last year.
The number of households owed a homelessness prevention duty following a section 21 notice rose to 6,640 between April and June 2023. The news comes weeks after data published by the Ministry of Justice showed section 21 evictions in the courts surging to a seven year high.
The government continues to delay a long-promised ban on section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, a key driver of homelessness. Conservative MPs on the Renters (Reform) Bill Committee recently voted down a Labour amendment seeking to abolish section 21 as soon as the Bill receives Royal Assent. The government also voted down a Labour amendment aiming to increase notice periods in the new system from two months to four months, seen as key to reducing the number of evictions that end in homelessness.
Tom Darling, campaign manager for the Renters’ Reform Coalition, said: ‘The stark statistics we’re seeing are yet another reminder of the urgency of abolishing section 21 evictions – which are a key driver of homelessness, as well as a source of constant insecurity for millions of tenants. Renters in England have been waiting for reform for five long years now, and the government’s recent decision to kick the can further down the road will lead to yet more misery as we approach winter with shocking levels of homelessness.
‘It isn’t just private renters who are being bankrupted by our broken renting system – homelessness services in councils right across England are already stretched to breaking point, and the cases recorded in this data will have added to the strain on overburdened and underfunded councils all across England.
‘The Renters (Reform) Bill is crucial but it’s far from a silver bullet. One of the changes that could made to strengthen it is to increase notice periods to four months – this will give any tenant being made to leave more chance of being able to find a new home before becoming homeless.’
In addition, Darren Baxter, principal policy advisor at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, has also expressed his disgust at the latest government figures for homelessness.
‘Homelessness is on the rise and more families face the threat of eviction through no fault of their own,’ Darren said. ‘Families with children are being left with no choice but to live in unsuitable and costly temporary accommodation because of a lack of social housing.’
Darren added: ‘The Government must bring in the Renters Reform Bill and abolish Section 21 without any more delays. The Bill must also be strengthened so it actually provides private renters with greater security than they currently have. This should include doubling the notice period for tenants when evicted under new no-fault grounds to four months. Tenants should also be protected from eviction for two years at the start of a tenancy. We must also build more social housing so that children aren’t left languishing in temporary accommodation while they wait for a suitable home.’
Image: Levi Meir Clancy
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