The Housing Secretary Steve Reed has criticised landlords who are issuing eviction notices ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act coming into force on 1 May, which will ban Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions. This condemnation follows reports from tenant campaign group Acorn that landlords are accelerating evictions before the new legislation takes effect.

Government stance on pre-emptive evictions

Steve Reed described the practice of issuing no-fault eviction notices in the lead-up to the ban as “disgraceful behaviour” and labelled the landlords involved as “shameless”. He emphasised that there is no justification for evicting tenants before the new protections begin, urging landlords to provide the housing security tenants deserve. Reed stated, “Kicking tenants out before they receive stronger rights is the type of disgraceful behaviour from shameless landlords which our act will stop.”

He further highlighted the significance of the legislation, calling the ban on unfair evictions “the biggest change to renting in a generation” that will alleviate the hardship caused by insecure tenancies.

Evidence of eviction surge

Claims of a spike in evictions come from Acorn, whose members have reported a rise in no-fault eviction cases. According to the group, nearly one-third of eviction cases reported this year involved Section 21 notices, up from 21% in the autumn. Chelsea Phillips, Chair of Acorn, said landlords are “racing to evict tenants before the ban comes into force on May 1, exploiting the final window to force people out with no reason.”

Phillips added, “People who should be weeks away from stronger protections are instead being uprooted and forced to scramble for somewhere new. This is a last-minute eviction rush, plain and simple, and it shows exactly why section 21 needed to go in the first place.”

Landlord perspectives and risk management

The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has acknowledged that while most landlords intend to continue tenancies, some are adjusting their approach in response to the upcoming changes. Meera Chindooroy, the NRLA’s deputy director of campaigns, told The Times that landlords are reviewing their exposure to risk ahead of the new legislation, particularly in cases involving rent arrears or antisocial behaviour.

Government data indicates a nearly 20% year-on-year reduction in households threatened with homelessness due to Section 21 notices in the three months to September. Additionally, the charity Crisis has not observed an increase in clients affected by no-fault evictions at its centres.

The NRLA also referenced the experience in Wales, where a similar ban on no-fault evictions led to a 140% rise in accelerated possession claims prior to the law’s implementation, suggesting landlords may seek alternative legal routes to regain possession.

What this means for landlords

Landlords should prepare for the end of Section 21 no-fault evictions from 1 May and consider how to manage tenancies under the new legal framework. While some may be tempted to issue eviction notices before the ban, this approach has been publicly condemned and may damage landlord-tenant relationships. Instead, landlords are encouraged to focus on maintaining tenancies and addressing issues such as rent arrears or antisocial behaviour through appropriate legal channels.

Understanding the implications of the Renters’ Rights Act and adapting tenancy management accordingly will be essential to ensure compliance and support housing stability for tenants.

Source: Based on reporting from Property118

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