Change on the horizon: ‘no fault’ evictions to be abolished
You may have seen the news recently that changes are on the horizon which will ‘shake up’ the private and social rented sector. This article will focus on the proposals which will impact the private rented sector looking into the abolishment of the ‘no fault’ eviction process
Recently the government published A Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper to announce details of the highly anticipated Renters Reform Bill. The purpose of this bill is to redress the imbalance of power between landlords and tenants. The most notable change being that section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 will be repealed, therefore abolishing the ‘no fault’ eviction process.
Under the current rules, where there are no applicable grounds for possession and the fixed term of the tenancy has ended a landlord can terminate a tenancy and regain possession of the property by following the procedure in section 21 of the Housing Act 1988. This is sometimes referred to as a ‘no fault’ eviction.
According to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities the Renters Reform Bill will provide greater clarity and support for private landlords by introducing new grounds for possession to ensure landlords can regain possession of their property from anti-social tenants. The proposals will also include introducing a Private Renters’ Ombudsman to oversee and settle disputes between tenants and landlords without the need to go to court. Lastly, a new property portal will be created to help landlords understand and comply with their responsibilities to their tenants.
The Bill will be debated and voted on during this parliamentary session and we should hear reports of its progress towards the end of 2022.
If you need legal advice from an experienced property litigation solicitor, don’t hesitate to contact me directly by emailing jonathan.bouchta@GAsolicitors.com or call 01752 203500.