New Housing Secretary Steve Reed has told MPs a ban on ‘no fault’ Section 21 evictions will stop landlords and letting agents “throwing out tenants for no good reason”.

Giving evidence to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, he said it will also prevent renters being told to leave “without notice”.

Section 21 evictions are being outlawed under the Renters’ Rights Act, which passed into law at the end of last month, and the ban will come into force in May 2026.

Thrown out

Reed said: “Banning no fault evictions will close down one of the most significant routes into homelessness that people face when they are thrown out with no notice and for no good reason.”

He also said the Government was due to publish the ‘roadmap’ for bringing the Renters’ Rights Act into force.

New build boost

Later in his evidence Reed also told MPs how the Government was trying to boost new build numbers in London, which have slumped over the last year.

“The situation is particularly bad in the capital, with 10 boroughs out of 30 odd having no starts last year,” he said in answer to a question from Chris Curtis, the MP for Milton Keynes North.

“It’s slowed down more in London than elsewhere. I announced with Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London a housing package designed to stimulate the market.”

He said the number of affordable homes required in a new build development has been temporarily lowered to 20% from 35%.

More on the Renters’ Rights Act