Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP has announced today (Monday 15 April) that the government will consult on new legislation to abolish evictions under Section 21. This means that private landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants at short notice without good reason.

Responding to the news, Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of Crisis, said:

“We warmly welcome the news that private landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants at short notice with no reason. We know that the end of a private tenancy is the single leading cause of homelessness across England so this decision represents a monumental leap forward in helping prevent homelessness across the country. We look forward to seeing further details.

“Where so many renters across the country currently live in anxiety of a ‘no fault’ eviction, more stable tenancies are especially important to those who have experienced homelessness - helping provide much-needed stability, giving them time to put down roots in their community, find employment and access support services if needed.

“Whilst this is undeniably a positive step, we cannot forget that a chronic social housing shortage alongside woefully inadequate levels of housing benefit mean many people struggle to even afford a privately rented home. Ultimately, to ensure people most vulnerable to homelessness are not left with nowhere to turn, the government must urgently address these root causes.”