Section 21 evictions in England hit a record high in 2023, with 32,387 households taken to court by their landlord seeking possession under the law, according to new figures from the Ministry of Justice.
This figure was up from 30,230 in 2022, and the highest number of evictions since 2016, when 33,522 such court claims were made.
The fourth quarter of the year saw 7,690 claims under Section 21, down from the previous quarter but the highest Q4 figure since 2015.
Landlords using new no-fault grounds will still need to cover their tenant’s costs of moving, and limit rent increases to the lower of wage growth or inflation, as Generation Rent is calling on the government to do.
Ben Twomey, chief executive of Generation Rent, said: “For the thousands of renters facing a Section 21 in 2024, the Renters’ Rights Bill will be too late.
“They have faced the stress and expense of finding a new place to live, and uprooting their lives on their landlord’s whim.
“The reforms mean landlords will need to demonstrate a valid reason for eviction in future, and give their tenants more time to move when selling or moving back in.”
Twomey added: “But renters will still bear the cost of moving for reasons beyond our control. And we are still vulnerable to unaffordable rent rises.
“The government must take the opportunity to strengthen protections for tenants by requiring landlords who want to move in or sell to cover the cost of their tenant’s relocation, and limiting rent rises to the lower of wage growth or inflation.”
