Charities urge PM to speed up renters reform billon October 15, 2023 at 11:01 pm

Thirty charities and non-profit organisations have written a letter to PM Rishi Sunak, urging him to pass a bill to ban ‘no-fault’ evictions.

The Renters Reform Bill would remove the right of landlords in England to evict tenants for no reason with only two months’ notice.

The charities said they are “deeply concerned” about the lack of progress in passing the bill into law.

The government said it would resume its progress through parliament “shortly”.

The Conservatives promised “a better deal for renters” – including a ban on no-fault evictions – in its manifesto ahead of the general election in 2019.

In May, the Renter Reform Bill was introduced to parliament, containing this measure. But it has not yet been brought back for the next parliamentary stage.

There are concerns the bill won’t have time to pass through parliament before the next election, which is expected to take place next year.

A key piece of housing legislation, known as Section 21, allows landlords to evict tenants without giving a reason.

After receiving a Section 21 notice, tenants have just two months before their landlord can apply for a court order to evict them.

The letter, which was co-ordinated by the housing charity Shelter, cites a survey of 1900 renters in England which suggests a renter is evicted every three minutes in England under the no-fault rule.

“We are deeply concerned about the lack of progress of the Renters Reform Bill,” the letter said.

“Any delay to the bill’s progress causes more avoidable hardship and suffering, and with it, greater cost to the taxpayer.”

The letter said scrapping no-fault evictions should be “at the heart” of the government’s plans, warning that renters “cannot wait any longer”.

“Together we are calling on the government to commit to progressing the Renters Reform Bill this parliament, and to pass it into law as promised in the party’s manifesto.”

Signatories include Child Poverty Action Group, Citizens Advice, Liberty, the Centre for Mental Health and Disability Rights UK.

A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson said: “The government will deliver a fairer private rented sector for tenants and landlords through the Renters Reform Bill, which will have its second reading in Parliament shortly.

“The bill delivers our manifesto commitment and will abolish Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions to give tenants greater security in their homes.

“We are also determined to reduce the number of non-decent rented homes by 50% by 2030, as well as introducing the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector for the first time.”