Plans to ban no-fault evictions could be scrapped

Long-promised plans to stop landlords in England evicting tenants without giving a reason could be scrapped.

A ban on no-fault evictions was due to become law next year after being promised by Boris Johnson at the 2019 general election.

But the government now says "no decisions have been made" about it.

Ministers are also considering relaxing rules on how many affordable homes must be included in new developments, which they say will boost housebuilding.

The government says it remains committed to ensuring renters get a "fair deal" - but housing charities and opposition parties have accused them of betrayal.

"No-fault evictions mean that families can face the disruption and upheaval of moving home and often schools with just two months' notice," said campaign group Generation Rent.

It also means that "unscrupulous landlords can bully tenants into accepting shoddy conditions or unaffordable rent increases," it added.

Osama Bhutta, director of campaigns at Shelter, said deciding not to ban no-fault evictions "will pour fuel on the housing emergency and make thousands homeless".

"The government must change its mind, it can do it now or do it after grasping the anger of millions of people," he added.

Banning Section 21 no-fault evictions was included in the 2019 Conservative election manifesto and was due to become law next year, as part of a "new deal" for private tenants.

Announcing the legislation in May, the then Levelling-Up Secretary Michael Gove said: "Too many renters are living in damp, unsafe and cold homes, powerless to put it right, and under the threat of sudden eviction."

But Mr Gove's successor Simon Clarke is considering scrapping the ban on no-fault evictions as part of a review of policies that do not "boost growth", according to The Times.

Hailed as "game changing" by those who'd long argued the private rental sector was stacked against tenants, the government's plans appear to be on hold.

A ban on no-fault evictions had cross-party support and even qualified backing from landlords, but now a reversal of the policy has not been ruled out.

Charities warn that an unpredictable housing market could see landlords selling or re-letting their properties, ending tenancies at short notice.

The number of households evicted in England has more than doubled in a year, largely down to the ban on evictions during the pandemic coming to an end.

But campaigners say the 19,790 Section 21 notices served in 2021/22 is higher than pre-Covid levels and will only rise further, fuelling homelessness.

There could be political repercussions too. Former housing secretary Michael Gove, who spearheaded the changes, has already accused Liz Truss of displaying the "wrong values" with tax cuts for higher earners.

If the prime minister now signs off on the reversal of a manifesto commitment to protect private renters, he and other Conservative backbenchers are unlikely to let it lie.

Mr Clarke is also considering relaxing rules on affordable housing.

Under current planning rules, developers must include affordable homes in any scheme of more than 10 homes. Mr Clarke reportedly wants to increase this threshold to 40 or 50 to boost housebuilding.

"The government is committed to exploring policies that build the homes people need, deliver new jobs, support economic development and boost local economies," a government spokesperson said.

But Labour's shadow levelling-up secretary Lisa Nandy said relaxing affordable homes targets "beggars belief" - and she urged the government to stick to its commitment on no-fault evictions.

"Millions of people are only a few weeks from losing their home through no fault of their own.

"The Tories promised to stop this in their election manifesto and the Queen's Speech. It would be shameful to break this promise."

Asked whether Liz Truss thought it was right to scrap no-fault evictions, the prime minister's spokesman said: "No decisions have been made."

The spokesman added: "This is something the secretary of state is considering in terms of how to improve the rental market.

"Clearly, ensuring a fair deal for renters will always remain a priority for this government."

Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said that whatever the government decided to do, a "wide range of reforms are desperately needed to support the sector".