Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary James Brokenshire has announced today that no-fault ‘section 21’ evictions are to be abolished to protect people in private rented accommodation. A consultation is to take place before the summer on the plans, which have been welcomed by homelessness charities, with evidence showing the evictions are a major cause of family homelessness. Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said that a quarter of families now privately rent their home, and that the charity often hears “from people with contracts shorter than your average gym membership, who live in constant fear of being thrown out at the drop of a hat.” Theresa May has said the move will “not only protect tenants from unethical behaviour, but also give them the long-term certainty and the peace of mind they deserve.” However, well ahead of all this, a campaign by the Labour Councillors on Sedgemoor District Council had backed the abolition of section 21 evictions. Labour Leader on SDC, Mick Lerry (Bridgwater Victoria) explains.
Mick and the Sedgemoor Labour group had moved a motion on Section 21 evictions at the last Council meeting. Mick said: “too many tenants renting felt vulnerable because of the fear of a section 21 eviction, without a reason by the landlord. This meant that tenants could find themselves homeless through no-fault. They could be paying their rent on time and not causing a problem to the landlord, but had no rights when issued with a section 21 eviction. Tenants in Council houses do not face the same threat as other tenants on short term tenancies. Section 21 evictions means that many tenants face an uncertain future with private landlords”.
In up and coming local elections on May 2nd it is important for voters to remember, that it is Labour Councillors who are leading the way to make sure that local renters are protected from unfair evictions.