No fault evictions, which will be banned under the Renters’ Rights Bill which is currently working its way through the House of Lords, have increased by 7% in 2024 compared to the previous year.
Landlords can apply for an accelerated possession order if tenants have not left by the date specified in a Section 21 notice (a no-fault eviction). According to the latest data from the Ministry of Justice 32,287 claims were issued to households under the accelerated procedure in 2024. That figure compares to 30,230 in 2023.
In the three months between October and December last year there were 2,947 evictions by bailiffs following a Section 21 notice, up by 10% from 2,671 for the same period in 2023.
Sarah Taylor, property dispute resolution partner at Excello Law, says the government must avoid delays to the new legislation. She says: “There have been reports of the year on year rise in no-fault evictions. We have seen that the uncertainty over the changes to the legislation has led to a number of landlords choosing to either leave the rental market or to obtain vacant possession of their property whilst they wait to see what happens when the new legislation comes into force.”
“As the Renter’s Rights Bill makes its way through Parliament, landlords are waiting to see what the consequences will be and whether it will result in additional costs for them. Some are unwilling to wait and instead choosing to leave the market.”
“Meanwhile, tenants are on the receiving end of this uncertainty as landlords serve notice on them to recover possession and evict them from their homes. It is important for the housing market that the bill becomes law soon to give certainty to both landlords and tenants.”
“We are also seeing an increase in the build to rent market and will wait to see if an increased investment in rental properties by institutional landlords will provide quality rental properties for families which also offer security of tenure when the new legislation comes into force. Affordability may, however, continue to be an issue for many tenants.”
