The ending of Section 21 evictions is making landlords nervous about whether they will have any legal and practical means of reclaiming their properties but Siân Hemming-Metcalfe (pictured), Operations Director at Inventory Base, says unscrupulous ones could use the Renters’ Rights Bill’s Section 6B as a back door to evict tenants.

If the Renters’ Rights Bill goes through as planned, Section 6B will allow landlords to regain possession when major works are required.

Hemming-Metcalfe says that, on paper, that appears perfectly reasonable. Properties constantly need maintenance and, in some cases, significant work can’t be carried out while tenants are in place, especially if it needs to be done urgently, such as when a landlord has been given an improvement notice.

unscrupulous landlords

She adds, however, that unless the legislation is made watertight, this could become a backdoor eviction route – one that’s wide open for misuse and could be weaponised by unscrupulous landlords looking for a quick and easy way to remove tenants.

So far, Hemming-Metcalfe advises, the bill is very vague about what qualifies as “substantial redevelopment” and it does not even specify if that entails full-scale refurbishments, structural repairs, or just a new kitchen.

She suggests that at that level of vagueness, even when the works are legitimate, there will be a lot of disputes and councils and courts could be swamped with legal challenges by tenants.

Without clear definitions and proper oversight, it runs the risk of being misused, disputed, or even ignored.”

Hemming-Metcalfe says: “Section 6B could be a sensible reform – if it’s handled properly. But without clear definitions and proper oversight, it runs the risk of being misused, disputed, or even ignored.

“The rental sector needs transparency, accountability, and balance – and independently commissioned inventory reports can help deliver exactly that.

“If landlords, tenants, and local authorities all want a fair, functional system, evidence-backed documentation needs to be part of the equation. Otherwise, we’re looking at yet another policy change that creates more problems than it solves.”