Government insists landlords should not evict tenants before Section 21 ban

The UK government has reiterated that landlords should not evict tenants ahead of the upcoming ban on Section 21 no-fault evictions, which is set to come into force on 1 May 2026. Despite concerns raised by tenant groups about a potential surge in evictions, official statistics indicate a decline in such cases, and ministers emphasise the importance of housing security for renters.

Government stance on pre-emptive evictions

In response to concerns about landlords possibly rushing to evict tenants before the Renters’ Rights Act takes effect, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage stated that there is no need for landlords to carry out evictions ahead of the legislation. She highlighted that landlords should provide tenants with the housing security they deserve and assured that the government is actively engaging with the sector to prevent unnecessary evictions.

Baroness Taylor also pointed to official Ministry of Justice data showing a 17% decrease in Section 21 accelerated possession claims in England during the final quarter of 2025 compared to the same period the previous year. This suggests that, contrary to some claims, there has not been a spike in no-fault evictions as the ban approaches.

Concerns from tenant groups

Despite government assurances, tenant organisations such as Acorn have reported an increase in no-fault eviction notices. Acorn noted that nearly one-third of eviction cases reported by its members in 2026 involved no-fault notices, up from 21% in the autumn of 2025. These figures have raised alarms about a possible rush by some landlords to regain possession before the new legal protections come into force.

Preventing unnecessary evictions

Conservative peer Lord Jamieson had previously questioned the government about the risk of pre-emptive evictions and what steps ministers were taking to engage with landlords or companies potentially undertaking such activity. Baroness Taylor responded by reaffirming that landlords will retain robust grounds for possession where there is a legitimate reason to repossess their property, but that no-fault evictions will be abolished from 1 May 2026.

She emphasised the government’s commitment to ensuring a smooth transition to the new tenancy system and to preventing avoidable evictions during this period.

What this means for landlords

Landlords should be aware that the abolition of Section 21 no-fault evictions will come into effect on 1 May 2026, and the government expects compliance with the new rules. While landlords will still have valid grounds to regain possession of their properties, these must be based on legitimate reasons rather than no-fault notices.

Given the government’s clear messaging and the decrease in Section 21 claims, landlords are encouraged to avoid rushing evictions ahead of the ban. Instead, they should prepare for the new tenancy framework and engage constructively with tenants to provide housing security and stability.

Source: Based on reporting from Property118

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