The staggering number of UK renters being evicted despite doing nothing wrong

A total of 7,760 “no-fault” Section 21 eviction notices were served between April and June of this year, new Ministry of Justice data show.

That’s the highest number in six years, when 7,923 such notices were handed out during the same quarter in 2017.

Section 21 notices allow private landlords to evict renters on assured shorthold tendencies – the kind of contract most people have – with two months’ notice, without any reason required, thus their “no-fault” monicker.

Charities have long been calling for reform, saying current legislation makes it too easy for property owners to “use and abuse the system”.

The consequences for the most vulnerable are dire – a record 104,510 households were in temporary accommodation in England as of the end of March.

Francesca Albanese, Executive Director of Policy and Social Change at charity Crisis, said: “These statistics provide further proof that the housing market is on its knees. The number of people being served with an eviction notice has risen once again, reaching its highest level in eight years.

“Soaring rents and rising costs are piling unsustainable pressures on renters and, sadly, this shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.”

UK private rental prices shot up 5.1 percent in the year to June, amid the cost-of-living crisis driven by 7.9 percent inflation.

The number of Section 21 orders resulting in a repossession increased by 41 percent over the April to June quarter relative to last year – going from 2,228 to 1578.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “With private rents reaching record highs and no-fault evictions continuing to rise, hundreds of families risk being thrown into homelessness every day.”

The number of families in England forced to turn to their local authority for temporary accommodation has doubled since 2010, where an estimated 131,000 children live today.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ (DLUHC) own research found landlords wishing to re-let the property for a higher price to be one of the primary drivers behind the uptick in homelessness.

Ms Neate added: “We speak to renters all the time who feel like they have zero control over their own lives because the threat of eviction is constantly hanging over them.”

Alistair Smyth, Director of Policy and Research at the National Housing Federation, said: “No fault evictions cause untold upheaval and stress for people renting privately and put some at risk of homelessness through no fault of their own. Sadly, we know that these figures are just the tip of the iceberg, as many evictions from private rent are not recorded.

“It’s simply not fair that families can be forced to leave their homes at any time. The Government must urgently fulfil its promise to end no fault evictions and reform the private rented sector. Ultimately social housing is the most secure and affordable type of home and the most suitable for low incomes families; many of whom are being forced to rent privately due to the severe shortage.

"As we head towards the election we urgently need all parties to commit to a long term plan for housing which prioritises drastically increasing social housing.”

The manifesto upon which the Conservatives secured a landslide Commons majority back in 2019 promised a “better deal for renters”.

The Renters (Reform) Bill 2022-23 was introduced to the House on May 17, and had reached the second reading phase by the time MPs broke for summer recess on July 20. They are set to return on September 4.

Ms Albanese added: “The warning lights are flashing – failure to act will see thousands more households facing the uncertainty of eviction and at risk of homelessness.”

The Government did not respond to the Reach Data Unit’s request for comment.