RENTERS' RIGHTS BILL ADVANCES AS SECTION 21 EVICTIONS CONTINUE TO RISE
Published · Updated · 3 min read
Renters' Rights Bill Makes Progress Through Parliament
The Renters' Rights Bill is making significant progress through Parliament, with the legislation successfully passing its second reading in the House of Lords on February 4th, 2025. After clearing the House of Commons on January 15th, the bill is now in committee stage in the Lords, with implementation of the Section 21 ban expected in summer 2025.
The urgency of reform is underscored by the latest Ministry of Justice figures, which reveal that Section 21 evictions reached a record high in 2023, with 32,387 households taken to court by their landlords. This represents a nearly 49% increase compared to the previous year. The first two months of 2025 have shown no sign of slowing, as landlords continue to use no-fault eviction powers ahead of the ban.
The Renters' Rights Bill will abolish Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988, which currently allows landlords to evict tenants with just two months' notice after a fixed-term tenancy ends or during a periodic tenancy, without providing a reason.Housing experts suggest the approaching ban is contributing to the current surge, with some landlords accelerating eviction plans before the new legislation takes effect. The bill is expected to receive Royal Assent after Easter 2025, with implementation likely in July, based on statements from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Eviction Crisis in Numbers49%Increase in Section 21 proceedings (2023)32,387Households taken to court in 20233,000Bailiff evictions in Q4 202411M+Private renters affected by the reformHomelessness Impact Reaches New Heights
The human cost of the Section 21 crisis continues to grow, with Ministry of Justice data showing that almost 3,000 households were evicted by bailiffs due to Section 21 notices in the last quarter of 2024 alone. Homelessness charities report that the number of households threatened with homelessness due to no-fault evictions has more than tripled since 2020.
In 2024, approximately 27,450 households were threatened with homelessness as a direct result of receiving Section 21 notices, according to the latest government statistics. This represents a continued upward trend from the 25,910 households in the same position in 2023 and the 8,950 households in 2020. Housing charity Shelter has described the situation as "a national emergency" for vulnerable renters.
"The Renters' Rights Bill is too late for thousands of renters currently facing eviction. Every day that passes without Section 21 being abolished means more families face homelessness and housing insecurity. The government must expedite this vital reform - Shelter spokesperson, February 2025
Section 21 evictions continue to show significant regional variations. The latest data reveals London experiencing the highest increase at 41%, followed by the South East at 36%. Housing pressure in urban centers remains a key factor in these disparities, with areas of high housing demand seeing the most aggressive use of no-fault eviction powers.
London+41%South East+36%North West+29%West Midlands+25%East of England+22%North East+18%Impact on LandlordsThe bill will affect an estimated 2.3 million landlords across England. While many landlords have expressed concerns about the removal of Section 21, the government has emphasized that the legislation includes new grounds for possession to protect landlords' legitimate interests, including provisions for selling properties and addressing anti-social behavior.
Key Insights
The Path to Reform
The journey to abolish Section 21 evictions has been protracted. First promised by Theresa May's government in 2019, the reform has undergone multiple iterations and delays before reaching its current stage in Parliament.
2019Government first promises to abolish Section 212022Renters Reform Bill announced in Queen's SpeechSep 2024Renters' Rights Bill introduced to ParliamentJan 2025Bill clears House of CommonsFeb 2025Second reading in House of LordsEaster 2025Expected Royal AssentJuly 2025Projected implementation of Section 21 ban2025 Implementation Outlook
As the bill progresses through its final parliamentary stages, the implementation timeline is becoming clearer. Government sources indicate a "big bang" approach that will apply the reforms to both new and existing tenancies simultaneously.
Key Provisions of the Renters' Rights Bill
The Renters' Rights Bill introduces several fundamental changes to the private rental sector:
Complete abolition of Section 21 "no-fault" evictionsConversion of all assured tenancies to periodic tenanciesNew possession grounds for landlords, including property sale and redevelopmentLimited rent increases to once per year with two months' notice requiredIntroduction of a new government-approved private landlord ombudsmanStronger enforcement against landlords who discriminate against tenants