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| No-fault evictions to be banned in England | No-fault evictions to be banned in England |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Private landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants at short notice without good reason under new government plans. | Private landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants at short notice without good reason under new government plans. |
| The change is intended to protect renters from "unethical" landlords and give them more long-term security. | The change is intended to protect renters from "unethical" landlords and give them more long-term security. |
| Section 21 notices allow landlords to evict renters without a reason at the end of their fixed-term tenancy. | Section 21 notices allow landlords to evict renters without a reason at the end of their fixed-term tenancy. |
| The National Landlords Association said the move would create "chaos" and make fixed-term contracts "meaningless". | The National Landlords Association said the move would create "chaos" and make fixed-term contracts "meaningless". |
| But an organisation representing tenants said the plans were "a vital first step to ending profiteering from housing". | But an organisation representing tenants said the plans were "a vital first step to ending profiteering from housing". |
| First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced similar plans for Wales, while in Scotland new rules requiring landlords to give a reason for ending tenancies were introduced in 2017. | First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced similar plans for Wales, while in Scotland new rules requiring landlords to give a reason for ending tenancies were introduced in 2017. |
| There are no plans in Northern Ireland to end no-fault evictions where a fixed-term tenancy has come to an end. | |
| 'Peace of mind' | 'Peace of mind' |
| Housing Secretary James Brokenshire said that evidence showed so-called Section 21 evictions were one of the biggest causes of family homelessness. | |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the changes would offer more "stability" to the growing number of families renting and mean people would not be afraid to make a complaint "because they may be concerned through a no-fault eviction that they may be thrown out". | |
| A survey of 2,001 private renters by Citizens Advice suggests that tenants who made a formal complaint had a 46% chance of being evicted within the next six months. | |
| Mr Brokenshire also said the plans would offer "speedy redress" to landlords seeking to regain possession of their property for legitimate reasons, such as to sell it or to move into it themselves. | |
| At the moment, landlords can give tenants as little as eight weeks' notice after a fixed-term contract ends. | At the moment, landlords can give tenants as little as eight weeks' notice after a fixed-term contract ends. |
| Under the government's new plans, landlords would have to provide a "concrete, evidenced reason already specified in law" in order to bring tenancies to an end. | Under the government's new plans, landlords would have to provide a "concrete, evidenced reason already specified in law" in order to bring tenancies to an end. |
| Mrs May said the major shake-up will protect responsible tenants from "unethical behaviour" and give them the "long-term certainty and the peace of mind they deserve". | Mrs May said the major shake-up will protect responsible tenants from "unethical behaviour" and give them the "long-term certainty and the peace of mind they deserve". |
| The prime minister also said the government was acting to prevent "unfair evictions". | The prime minister also said the government was acting to prevent "unfair evictions". |
| 'We were evicted for complaining about a roof leak' | 'We were evicted for complaining about a roof leak' |
| Alicia Powell, 24, and her boyfriend believe they were evicted for complaining about a roof leak in their north London flat. | Alicia Powell, 24, and her boyfriend believe they were evicted for complaining about a roof leak in their north London flat. |
| They complained to their property manager but nothing was done so they said they were going to report it to their local council. | They complained to their property manager but nothing was done so they said they were going to report it to their local council. |
| Shortly afterwards they were served with a Section 21 notice. | Shortly afterwards they were served with a Section 21 notice. |
| 'No confidence' | 'No confidence' |
| The National Landlords Association (NLA) said its members should be able to use a Section 8 possession notice to evict someone who has broken the terms of their tenancy - for example by not paying rent. | The National Landlords Association (NLA) said its members should be able to use a Section 8 possession notice to evict someone who has broken the terms of their tenancy - for example by not paying rent. |
| This sometimes involves landlords spending money taking action in court if the tenants refuse to leave. | This sometimes involves landlords spending money taking action in court if the tenants refuse to leave. |
| But NLA chief executive Richard Lambert said many landlords were forced to use Section 21 as they have "no confidence" in the courts to deal with Section 8 applications "quickly and surely". | But NLA chief executive Richard Lambert said many landlords were forced to use Section 21 as they have "no confidence" in the courts to deal with Section 8 applications "quickly and surely". |
| He said the proposed changes would create a new system of indefinite tenancies by the "back door", and the focus should be on improving the Section 8 and court process instead. | He said the proposed changes would create a new system of indefinite tenancies by the "back door", and the focus should be on improving the Section 8 and court process instead. |
| A Ministry of Housing spokesman said court processes would "also be expedited so landlords are able to swiftly and smoothly regain their property" where such a move is justified. | A Ministry of Housing spokesman said court processes would "also be expedited so landlords are able to swiftly and smoothly regain their property" where such a move is justified. |
| Amina Gichinga, from London Renters Union - which has been campaigning for the end of no-fault evictions - said: "This campaign success is a vital first step to ending profiteering from housing and towards a housing model based on homes for people, not profit. | Amina Gichinga, from London Renters Union - which has been campaigning for the end of no-fault evictions - said: "This campaign success is a vital first step to ending profiteering from housing and towards a housing model based on homes for people, not profit. |
| "Section 21 is a pernicious piece of legislation that renters across the country will be glad to see the back of. | "Section 21 is a pernicious piece of legislation that renters across the country will be glad to see the back of. |
| "The law allows landlords to evict their tenants at a moment's notice, leaving misery and homelessness in its wake. This fear of eviction discourages renters from complaining about disrepair and poor conditions." | "The law allows landlords to evict their tenants at a moment's notice, leaving misery and homelessness in its wake. This fear of eviction discourages renters from complaining about disrepair and poor conditions." |
| 'An outstanding victory' | 'An outstanding victory' |
| Shelter, a charity which helps people struggling with bad housing or homelessness, said the proposals would "transform lives". | Shelter, a charity which helps people struggling with bad housing or homelessness, said the proposals would "transform lives". |
| Chief executive Polly Neate said: "Government plans to abolish no-fault evictions represent an outstanding victory for England's 11 million private renters." | Chief executive Polly Neate said: "Government plans to abolish no-fault evictions represent an outstanding victory for England's 11 million private renters." |
| Labour's shadow housing secretary John Healey said that any promise of help for renters is "good news" but added that "this latest pledge won't work if landlords can still force tenants out by hiking the rent". | Labour's shadow housing secretary John Healey said that any promise of help for renters is "good news" but added that "this latest pledge won't work if landlords can still force tenants out by hiking the rent". |
| The Labour party previously said it would scrap so-called Section 21 evictions, among a host of other reforms to the rental sector. | The Labour party previously said it would scrap so-called Section 21 evictions, among a host of other reforms to the rental sector. |
| "Tenants need new rights and protections across the board to end costly rent increases and sub-standard homes as well as to stop unfair evictions," Mr Healy added. | "Tenants need new rights and protections across the board to end costly rent increases and sub-standard homes as well as to stop unfair evictions," Mr Healy added. |
| How will you be affected by this ban? Email your thoughts to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | How will you be affected by this ban? Email your thoughts to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |