New Ministry of Justice figures show a persistent decrease in evictions in the lead-up to the passage of the Renters’ Rights Bill, contradicting landlord groups’ warnings of a last-minute surge.
The latest repossessions statistics reveal that landlord section 21 claims in the courts for the second quarter of 2025 were down by 12% compared with the same period last year.
This is despite claims from landlord groups that the Bill would prompt “a wave of evictions” before its provisions take effect.
Renting campaigners have welcomed the figures and urged the Government to abolish section 21 immediately upon the Bill’s passage, a commitment made by Labour during last year’s election.
Current provisions mean the ban on ‘no fault’ section 21 evictions would not be implemented until an unspecified later date.
More than 130,000 households have faced a section 21 eviction claim in court since the Government pledged to scrap the practice in 2019 – a figure likely below the true total.
The Renters’ Rights Bill is now in its final stage in the House of Commons after the House of Lords introduced amendments that campaigners warn could weaken key protections.
These changes include new possession grounds for landlords to house carers or agricultural workers, a halved re-letting ban period after sales-related evictions, and an additional three weeks’ deposit for tenants with pets.
Tom Darling, director at the Renters’ Reform Coalition, said: “Although too many renters are still threatened with insecurity and homelessness, falling evictions is good news – and it blows apart the myth of a ‘landlord exodus’ and eviction surge caused by the Renters’ Rights Bill.
“Meanwhile however the Renters’ Rights Bill has taken a beating in the House of Lords, with amendments added that would hugely undermine it.
“For the bill to make a real difference for renters, the Government must take out those amendments when the bill returns to the House of Commons, then press on and abolish section 21 immediately once the bill is passed.”
