The UK’s private rental sector is on the cusp of a significant overhaul with the impending Renters’ Rights Bill, promising greater security and fairness for tenants. However, a looming concern overshadows this positive development: a potential surge in no-fault evictions before the bill becomes law. The Renters Reform Coalition (RRC), an alliance of 21 organizations advocating for renters’ rights, warns that thousands of tenants could face eviction via Section 21 notices, also known as no-fault evictions, while the bill makes its way through the legislative process. This concern stems from the current upward trend in evictions, which has reached an eight-year high, fueled in part by the post-pandemic recovery but also by landlords potentially preemptively evicting tenants before the new protections take effect.
Section 21 notices allow landlords to evict tenants without providing a reason, giving renters only two months to find alternative housing. This practice has raised concerns about retaliatory evictions, where landlords use Section 21 to remove tenants who complain about living conditions or assert their rights. The RRC estimates that over 100,000 households have faced the threat of homelessness and a million have received Section 21 notices since the government first pledged to ban them in 2019. The Coalition’s projections, based on Ministry of Justice data, suggest over 15,600 landlord repossession actions could occur in the first half of 2025 alone, a significant increase compared to the same period in 2024. This figure encompasses private, council, and housing association rentals.
The urgency of this issue is further highlighted by reports from organizations like Citizens Advice, which reported assisting an average of 100 people daily with no-fault evictions in September 2024. A staggering 70% of those individuals faced homelessness as a direct result of these notices. Moreover, the RRC has voiced concerns about a potential “wave of evictions” anticipated by some landlords before the ban on Section 21 notices takes hold, adding further pressure on an already strained rental market.
The Renters’ Rights Bill, introduced by the Labour government, aims to address these issues and rebalance the power dynamic between landlords and tenants. Key provisions include the abolition of Section 21 notices, allowing tenants greater security and stability in their homes. The bill also promises enhanced rights for tenants to challenge unfair rent increases and extends Awaab’s Law, aimed at tackling dangerous living conditions caused by mould, to the private rented sector. Recent amendments to the bill also address the issue of excessive upfront rent demands, limiting them to one month’s rent and aiming to alleviate the financial burden on prospective tenants.
While the bill has progressed through its initial stages in the House of Commons, including committee scrutiny and a second reading, it still faces further scrutiny in the House of Lords and requires royal assent before becoming law. While the expected implementation is anticipated for the summer of 2025, the RRC emphasizes the pressing need for swift action to prevent further evictions in the interim. The organization advocates for further amendments to the bill, including measures to control in-tenancy rent increases, tying them to inflation or wage growth, thus preventing landlords from using exorbitant rent hikes as a tactic to force tenants out. They also call for action against discriminatory practices, such as unnecessary demands for guarantors, which further restrict access to housing for vulnerable groups.
The government, acknowledging the current challenges in the private rental sector, has affirmed its commitment to transforming the landscape through the Renters’ Rights Bill. They highlight the bill’s core aim of empowering renters to establish stable homes and plan for the future without the constant threat of arbitrary eviction. The government’s broader housing strategy, encapsulated in their “Plan for Change,” seeks to address the wider housing crisis by increasing the supply of social and affordable housing. However, the critical window between the bill’s current status and its eventual implementation remains a period of vulnerability for thousands of tenants facing potential eviction, underscoring the urgent need for effective measures to bridge this gap and protect renters during this transitional period.
