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Newly appointed Housing Minister Angela Rayner has acknowledged that the end of Section 21 evictions must be accompanied by a functioning court system.
Labour promised in its manifesto to repeal Section 21 “immediately”, but as it stands landlords who don’t use “no-fault evictions” face long delays in evicting bad tenants through Section 8 because of delays in going to court and appointing bailiffs.
Before the election results were announced, Rainer Bank of London Asked if she would repeal Article 21, she replied “yes,” but added: “We also need to make sure the court system is functioning.”
Paul Shamprina, founder of Landlords Action, said: “An immediate ban on Section 21 evictions is not possible without first addressing the current inefficiencies in the court system. Mr Rayner’s admission of this highlights the need for a balanced approach that takes into account both tenants’ rights and the practices faced by landlords.”
“However, given Labour’s manifesto promises, we expect to see a further increase in the number of landlords serving Section 21 notices in the coming months. Landlords are likely to act pre-emptively to protect their interests before the legal changes come into force. At Landlord Action we have already seen an increase in Section 21 notice instructions as many landlords secure rental income or prepare to sell their properties.”
He added: “While the aim of repealing section 21 is to protect tenants from unfair evictions, it is important that the transition is made carefully so that unintended consequences can be avoided that could lead to reduced rental vacancies and ultimately harm both landlords and tenants.”