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We are pressing reset on the relationship between tenants and private landlords
The government is ending ‘no-fault’ evictions to reset the unbalanced relationship between tenants and landlords in the private sector, writes Heather Wheeler
Your home is not just bricks and mortar, a postcode jumble of meaningless numbers and letters, or a soulless building on Google Maps.
It’s a place where you feel secure and at ease. It’s your sanctuary – your home.
That sense of peace and stability is something many of us take for granted. Yet day in and day out, millions of renters across the country live under a cloud of uncertainty about whether they will need to leave their home at short notice.
The vast majority of renters are responsible tenants who pay their rent on time and take good care of the property. Yet currently, landlords can evict tenants without good reason in just eight weeks after the fixed terms come to an end.
It cannot be right that in 2019, people can’t put down roots or make the important decisions that are right for them and their family with confidence – such as where their children should go to school – when potentially they know things can change at any moment.
And on top of this uncertainty comes the costs of unwanted and unplanned moves. The Money Advice Service estimates that the average house removal costs up to £600 – hard-earned cash that could be put aside for family holidays, childcare or for a deposit to buy your own house or flat.
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That’s why today the government is pressing reset on the relationship between landlord and tenant in what is the biggest change to the private rented sector in a generation.
The vast majority of landlords are responsible property owners who provide quality homes and services for their tenants. Yet the housing market they operate in has not kept pace with the changes in society, and leaves many tenants feeling insecure.
“That’s why today the government is pressing reset on the relationship between landlord and tenant in what is the biggest change to the private rented sector in a generation”
As part of a complete overhaul of the sector, we intend to bring forward legislation to abolish Section 21 evictions – so called ‘no-fault’ evictions – which will bring an end to private landlords upending tenants from their homes with just weeks’ notice.
This will effectively create open-ended tenancies, bringing greater stability and peace of mind to millions of families who live in rented accommodation, while providing certainty to responsible landlords by creating a more secure rental market in which to remain and invest.
As part of our plans, landlords will have to provide an evidenced, concrete reason already specified in law for bringing tenancies to an end – such as tenants failing to pay their rent on time or damaging the property.
In doing so, every single person living in the private rented sector – some four million people – will be freed to make the right housing choice for themselves, not have it made for them.
It is also right that responsible landlords are able to get their property back swiftly should they wish to sell it or move into it, or in the rare event of tenants falling into rent arrears or damaging the property.
“Our reforms will also mean landlords are given greater security by creating a more secure rental market in which to remain and invest”
That’s why we will also look to speed up court processes and amend eviction provisions, so property owners have the security of knowing they are able to smoothly regain their property and that disputes will be resolved quickly.
Our reforms will also mean landlords are given greater security by creating a more secure rental market in which to remain and invest.
Together, our plans will help create thriving communities where people can come together, put down roots and plan for the future – building a housing market that truly works for everyone.
Heather Wheeler, minister for housing and homelessness
