Fast-Track Possessions to Rise

Housing associations will increasingly use ‘fast-track’ possession notices to evict tenants who fall behind with rent payments.  Inside Housing’s survey of 73 social landlords in Great Britain shows that, of 37 housing associations which responded, 23 plan to use ground 8 of the Housing Act 1988 to evict tenants who rack up arrears, with just 11 ruling it out.  Traditionally associations have used grounds 10 or 11 under the act, which are discretionary and rely on a court making a decision as to the tenant’s circumstance. However, ground 8, which only applies to some assured shorthold housing association tenants, is mandatory, meaning a court will be obliged to grant eviction if eight weeks of arrears have mounted up. Several landlords have now said they will use ground 8 as a last resort or in extreme circumstances as a result of the impact of welfare reforms. Read more on Inside Housing.