A safe place to call home: ending unfair evictions for good

May 26, 2021 9:40 AM

It's time to end unfair evictions for good. We've set out our vision for a fair renting system.

Download the report

In the Queen’s Speech on 11 May 2020, the Government committed to reforming renting and “having a Better Deal for Renters in England.”

The need for reform has never been more evident. At a time when everyone was asked to stay home, the pandemic highlighted and worsened problems in the private rented sector.

We estimate that almost 700,000 thousand private renters have received a section 21 eviction in the last year. Section 21 allows landlords to evict tenants without giving a reason. It prevents renters from having secure homes and is a leading cause of homelessness. Since April 2018, 68,430 households have faced homelessness after their landlord evicted them to sell or re-let the property or in retaliation for a complaint. 

After years of pressure from housing campaigners, the Government committed to ending section 21. But what they replace it with is crucial - we need to make sure the new laws end unfair evictions for good.

Today, Generation Rent publishes A safe place to call home: ending unfair evictions’ which sets our vision for a fairer renting system. We are calling for:

  • Open ended tenancies
  • More time to find a new home
  • Compensation for a blameless move
  •  No excessive rent increases to force an eviction
  • No mandatory evictions for people in rent debt

It is not fair a renter can be asked to leave their home without reason, regardless of how long they have lived in their home, given just two months' notice to leave and receive no compensation for this costly blameless home move. It’s not fair that renters can be given excessive rent hikes to force an eviction, or not have their personal circumstances considered if they have fallen into rent debt.

The Government’s upcoming reforms are an important opportunity to make the legislative change needed to protect renters’ rights and give them long-term security in their homes. The last year has shown us how important a safe and secure home is, and we can’t afford to miss this opportunity to redesign the housing system.

That’s why we’re calling for open ended tenancies, longer notice periods, no automatic evictions for those in rent debt, and compensation for tenants facing an unplanned move.

Read the report in full here.

Together, we can make sure the upcoming reforms deliver for renters. Join us – get involved with the campaign.

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