Steve Reed slams ‘disgraceful’ last-minute evictions
Housing Secretary Steve Reed says issuing no-fault evictions in the final weeks before the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force is “disgraceful behaviour”.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed has criticised landlords issuing no-fault evictions in the final weeks before the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force.
He described the practice as “disgraceful behaviour” that undermines incoming protections for tenants.
“There is no need to evict tenants ahead of this ban,” he said, adding that “kicking tenants out before they receive stronger rights” is exactly the type of conduct the legislation is designed to prevent.
There is no need to evict tenants ahead of this ban.”
His comments to The Times come as tenant groups, including Acorn, claim there has been a last-minute surge in eviction notices as some landlords act before the May deadline.
One typical case seen by The Negotiator involved a prominent estate agency, where a Section 21 notice was served by the landlord via the agent. The tenant was told the landlord’s son would be moving in, only for the property to be subsequently re-advertised for rent.
The dispute has since escalated into multiple complaints to redress bodies, including the local authority and an MP, although a possession order was still granted by the court. While moving in a family member will become a valid reason for possession under the new Section 8 rules, these are not yet in force.
However, when they are, they will also prevent properties from being re-let for a 12-month period after those grounds are used.
Increasing pressure
With just weeks left, many letting agents may face increasing pressure from landlords to serve last-minute eviction notices on troublesome tenants or in order to re-let at a higher rent. They, however, risk reputational damage if cases are not handled sensitively and communications are not accurate
I look forward to Steve Reid signing on after the next election. As he would say “Totally disgraceful” the few opportunities offered to former MPs. He will have a parachute payment to adjust to normal life.
We are running a business being financially penalised by him and his political masters.
Easy to be critical if you are on £99,400 plus expenses and job security until 2029.
Our unfair taxes pay for his salary.
Insulting your customers is not a good strategy.
Well, who would have thought this?
Dear Government – you need to take a long hard look at the damage YOU have caused to The PRS. Your actions have unfortunately damaged the Tenants you were supposedly protecting with your new laws – vilifying good agents and landlords. As always, and like with The TFB 2019 – you’ve used a sledgehammer to crack a nut!
You’ve lit the blue touch-paper. Now stand back and see the damage you’ve caused!
Well this is a surprise isn’t it! I have today been asked to give notice as a landlord needs to sell for reasons he cannot avoid..ie death duties! He really is upset about having to do so to the tenant but you don’t hear these stories and the worse cases of abuse of renters is in fact the government and local authorities and NOT the majority of the PRS.
Government not anticipating the consequences of their actions….Who’d have thought?