New research from housing charity Shelter reveals that a tenant over 55 in England receives a no-fault eviction notice every 16 minutes.
The study, conducted by YouGov and funded by The Co-operative Bank, indicates that 28% of private tenants over the age of 55, equating to around 400,000 individuals, live in fear of eviction.
People who receive Section 21 notices have only two months to vacate their property, and landlords are not required to give any reason for the eviction. A third of all private renters say that the last time they moved, it took them longer than two months to find a new privately rented home.
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “Older renters may already be retired or planning for retirement at this point in their lives. They shouldn’t have knots in their stomachs, constantly afraid that their landlord is going to kick them out of their home for no reason.”
Shelter is urging the government to abolish no-fault evictions and is calling for the swift passage of the Renters (Reform) Bill, which has been delayed. The charity warns that the delay is affecting the mental and physical health of thousands of older tenants. One quarter of renters over 55 say that worrying about eviction has negatively impacted their mental or physical health.
Nearly one-fifth of adult private renters in England are over 55, a statistic that has risen by 31% over the past decade. One such person, Jeanette, a 64-year-old renter, was hit with her second no-fault eviction notice in July. “That piece of paper telling you you are being evicted makes you feel like you’re nothing,” she said.
Nick Slape, chief executive officer of The Co-operative Bank, emphasised the need for action. “We know the private rented system in this country needs urgent reform and this new research shows just how desperate the situation has become,” he said.
Both Shelter and The Co-operative Bank are urging the government to prioritise the Renters (Reform) Bill, emphasising the urgent need to protect older renters from the instability and health impacts associated with no-fault evictions.
