700,000 thousand private renters faced eviction last year

Generation Rent has estimated that nearly 700,000 thousand private renters have obtained a section 21 eviction within the last year, allowing landlords to evict tenants without giving a reason.

Section 21 prevents renters from having secure homes and it is a leading cause of homelessness. Since April 2021, 68,430 households have faced homelessness after their landlord evicted these to sell or re-let the property or in retaliation for any complaint.

The government has committed to ending section 21 and Generation Rent has used a new are accountable to establish a fairer renting system, with: open ended tenancies; more time to locate a new house; compensation for a blameless move; no excessive rent increases to make an eviction; and no mandatory evictions for people in rent debt.

The organisation stresses that the government’s upcoming reforms are an essential chance to make the legislative change required to protect renters’ rights and give them long-term security in their homes.