“No-fault” evictions in London rise by more than 50% in a year

Khan says the data shows the government’s failure to ban Section 21 notices is a “huge betrayal”. reports Noah Vickers, local democracy reporter

The number of “no-fault” evictions in London has risen by 52% in the past year – more than five times the rate seen in the rest of England and Wales, a City Hall analysis shows.

Sadiq Khan said the data showed the government’s failure to ban evictions – also known as Section 21 notices – was a “huge betrayal”.

Section 21 notices are used by landlords to evict tenants with two months’ notice and without having to provide any reason.

According to the latest government figures, there were 11,880 of these “no-fault” eviction claims in London in the year to the end of March 2024, up 52% ​​from 7,834 in the year to March 2023.

This increase compares with a 9% increase in the rest of England and Wales over the same period, the City Hall said.

“The Government’s failure to pass the Tenants (Reform) Bill before parliament is dissolved today (Thursday 30) is a huge betrayal of the 2.7 million private tenants in London who are left with the threat of eviction hanging over them head,” Khan said.

“These latest statistics from City Hall are shocking and the unacceptable delay of this vital bill will leave even more tenants in the capital at unnecessary risk of housing insecurity and homelessness.

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“I am doing everything I can to build a better and fairer London for everyone by supporting tenants, but I cannot act alone. Tenants’ rights must be a national priority and ‘no-fault’ evictions must be banned permanently.”

The Conservatives committed to the ban in their 2019 manifesto, with housing secretary Michael Gove promising as early as February this year that the ban would be in place before the next election.

The Tenants (Reform) Bill, intended to enforce the ban, was first introduced in the House of Commons in May last year. But its progress was delayed by several Tory MPs who wanted to strengthen protections for landlords, who they feared would sell out.

Following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s announcement of the July 4 election, it emerged that the necessary legislation would not be passed during the “washout” period before parliament is dissolved.

Deputy Premier Oliver Dowden told the Local Democracy Reporting Service last week: “As happens at the end of parliament when you call a general election, there is a huge amount of legislation on the books. We only have two days to wrap everything up.”

He added: “It was not possible for this legislation to be passed during the ‘washout’ period.”

Dowden said the government had a strong record on housing overall, with 2.5 million new homes built nationally since 2010.

In total, more than 30,000 rented households in London have faced a ‘no-fault’ eviction claim since 2019.

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