Private Rented Housing: Evictions – Parliamentary Written Answer

Kate Osamor:  To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to further control the ability of private landlords to evict tenants at short notice.

Brandon Lewis: The Housing and Planning Bill introduced on 13 October contains a range of measures that are intended to crack down on criminal landlords, thereby helping to improve the sector and ensure tenants get a better deal. There will be a blacklist of rogue landlords and letting agents, banning orders for the most prolific and serious offenders, civil penalties of up to £5,000 for certain breaches of housing legislation, Rent Repayment Orders to cover situations where a tenant has been illegally evicted or the landlord has failed to rectify a serious health and safety hazard in the property, and a tougher fit and proper person test for landlords letting out licensed properties, such as Houses in Multiple Occupation.

Thousands of Tenants Face Eviction at Short Notice

Thousands of tenants in the private rented sector face eviction at short notice when their homes are repossessed, according to Citizens Advice. The national charity’s 'Renting in the recovery' report, reveals up to 6,800 tenants are evicted every year when landlords get into mortgage arrears. The report finds renters in the private sector often don’t get the protection they are entitled to if a landlord is repossessed, with some tenants only finding out they are being evicted when bailiffs show up at their door. Citizens Advice fears the situation could worsen when interest rates rise and some landlords struggle with higher mortgage repayments. Read more on 24dash.