A group of 30 charitable and nonprofit organisations has called upon the prime minister to pass a bill that would prohibit “no-fault” evictions. The proposed Renters Reform Bill seeks to eliminate the right of landlords in England to evict tenants for no reason, requiring a minimum notice period of two months.
Charitable groups have expressed concerns that delays could result in “more avoidable hardship and suffering” and a “greater cost to the taxpayer”.
Government’s promise four years ago
The government has assured that the bill will resume its progress in parliament soon. The Conservative party had made a commitment to provide “a better deal for renters,” including a ban on no-fault evictions, in its manifesto prior to the last general election four years ago.
In May, the Renters Reform Bill was presented in Parliament, containing this specific provision. However, it has not yet advanced to the next parliamentary stage. There are concerns that the bill may not have sufficient time to pass through Parliament before the expected upcoming election, next year.
Currently, under the existing housing law, referred to as Section 21, landlords can evict tenants without specifying a reason. Following receipt of a Section 21 notice, tenants have only a two-month window before their landlord can request a court order for eviction.
Housing charity expresses concerns
Shelter, a housing charity, which has organised a letter signed by 30 organisations to Rishi Sunak, disclosed that their research suggests a renter is evicted every three minutes under the no-fault rule in England. A third of the 1,900 individuals surveyed reported that it took them longer than two months to secure alternative accommodation the last time they moved. “This dire lack of security disproportionately impacts the people we represent,” Shelter said.
Shelter’s letter indicated that “poor and insecure housing makes people physically sick, and has a well-documented, negative impact on their mental health”. It added: “It causes social isolation and financial hardship, and traps people in cycles of poverty, struggle and uncertainty that are difficult, sometimes impossible, to break.”
Shelter’s letter also said scrapping no-fault evictions should be “at the heart” of the government’s policy and warned 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.”
Support from other groups
Signatories include the Child Poverty Action Group, Citizens Advice, Liberty, the Centre for Mental Health, and Disability Rights UK.
A spokesperson from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities has stated, “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.”
Final thought
The call to pass the Renters Reform Bill is not just a request for legislative action; it’s a plea to safeguard the most fundamental of human needs – a place to call home. No-fault evictions inflict suffering, insecurity, and homelessness, and the statistics tell a grim tale of a system in need of reform.
Charitable and nonprofit organisations, like Shelter, are not just making a case for policy change; they’re highlighting a dire humanitarian crisis. Insecure housing leads to physical and mental health issues, social isolation, and poverty traps.
The government’s promise of a “better deal for renters” is at a crossroads, and delaying the Renters Reform Bill endangers this pledge. It’s time to act decisively, pass the bill, and uphold principles of justice and compassion.
Renters cannot wait any longer. It’s time to prove that our commitment to citizen well-being is more than campaign rhetoric; it’s a solemn pledge etched into our legislative history.
Curia’s Housing and Homelessness Inquiry
Curia’s Levelling Up Commission recently conducted an inquiry on housing and homelessness. The inquiry was split into three panels, with part one focusing exclusively on the UK’s planned transition to green energy.