Today (15th April 2019), the government has outlined plans to consult on new legislation to abolish Section 21 in a bid to end so called ‘no-fault’ evictions. Sherelle Collman, Managing Director of Caridon Landlord Solutions, which specialises in Universal Credit and Housing Benefit advice for private landlords, letting agencies and housing associations comments:
“Over the last few years the government has implemented several new acts for landlords to adhere to such as the Deregulation Act 2015, and more recently the Guide for tenants: Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018. The roll out of Universal Credit has also impacted landlords who let to tenants in receipt of housing benefit, owing to the delays of payments and Department for Work and Pensions (DWPS) maladministration, such as paying the tenant when an APA (Alternative Payment Arrangement) is in place.
Theresa May’s announced that she is now looking to ban Section 21 is another major hit for private landlords that will undoubtedly put a further strain on the current housing shortage.We believe that with greater restrictions on re-gaining possession of their properties, landlords will be reluctant to house vulnerable households or those on low incomes. It could harm the very people the government are trying to protect.
From our experience, landlords use a Section 21 in certain cases where it would be difficult to evict under Section 8, for example, if a tenant is displaying anti-social behaviour, which is often difficult to prove under the current Section 8 notice.
Whist I understand that scrapping Section 21 will increase security for private renters, I feel like the negative impact could far outweigh the positive.”