Section 21 Evictions — [Caroline Nokes in the Chair]

I know we are not here to talk primarily about rent controls, but they go back to at least 1915. On section 21, the hon. Gentleman may be flogging a dead horse. I do not know whether he has seen the briefing from the National Residential Landlords Association, which states that 70% of landlords could envisage operating without section 21 and another 8% say it had never been important to them in the first place. The private rented sector needs reform due to the decline in social housing and the rise of assured shorthold tenancies. Rent levels, disrepair issues, and exemptions for no-fault evictions need addressing beyond just removing section 23. Access to legal support is vital for tenants.

Jim Shannon expressed concern about the impact of section 21 evictions, noting that although Northern Ireland does not have section 21 notices, housing uncertainty remains a significant issue. He highlighted that over 25,000 eviction notices were reported since 2019 and emphasized the need for security of tenure, especially with rising living costs and winter approaching.

The hon. Member cites the experience in Scotland, where they have had to introduce rent controls on the back of abolishing section 21; is he advocating that we should adopt rent controls for the private rented sector? Mr. Hollinrake expressed concerns about the potential unintended consequences of abolishing section 21, citing his experience from the mid-1980s when rent controls led to reduced property supply in the private rented sector. He argued that removing section 21 could similarly reduce investment and supply, ultimately harming tenants. Mr. Hollinrake also mentioned a briefing suggesting up to 30% of supply might be lost quickly if section 21 is abolished. Mr Hollinrake suggested that section 24, which limits mortgage interest for private rented sector properties but does not apply to holiday homes, could incentivize property owners to provide holiday homes rather than rental properties if section 21 were abolished. Kevin Hollinrake intervened to point out that abolishing section 21 could lead to a significant reduction in property values, as properties with protected tenancies are typically valued about 30% below market value. Added thanks to Dan Carden for bringing forward the debate. Noted that UK rents have risen fastest in Scotland recently, mentioned wanting reform of property rental standards and section 21 process but not abolition.

Ms Lyn Brown discussed the economic crisis's impact on renters and called for an end to section 21 evictions. She cited Newham's high homelessness and child poverty rates, with one in 22 people homeless before the cost of living crisis. She mentioned Syeda's case, a family living in poor conditions with impending eviction due to a section 21 notice. Ms Brown also highlighted Morgan's situation, struggling with a proposed rent increase from £1,800 to £2,500 per month for her poorly maintained flat. She demanded the Government to bring forward legislation to abolish section 21 and implement comprehensive protections for renters.

Is the hon. Gentleman suggesting that it is appropriate for people who live in rented accommodation to be subject to the vagaries of the market? We are talking about people who live their lives in these homes. What exactly does he envisage they will do in this scenario? Ms Greenwood highlighted that nearly 20,000 households in England faced homelessness after receiving a section 21 eviction notice. She noted that government statistics show evictions have more than doubled in the last year and are a leading cause of homelessness.

He expressed concern over the insecurity, high rents, and poor conditions in the private rented sector. He highlighted a broad political consensus on banning no-fault evictions under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 to prevent homelessness. Pennycook also mentioned that landlords should have robust grounds for possession in cases like anti-social or criminal behaviour but noted that most now appreciate better tenant rights and conditions. Clarifying a previous statement from the Minister, Matthew Pennycook seeks a firm commitment that parliamentary time will be allocated for a renters reform Bill before this Parliament ends.

Ms Maskell highlighted the housing crisis in York, noting a sudden increase of 52% in evictions and a significant rise in short-term holiday lets. She criticised section 24 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2015 for exacerbating the situation by pushing landlords into negative equity, leading to rent hikes or evictions to convert properties to Airbnb rentals. The statistics provided included an increase from 973 to 2,118 holiday let properties since January 2018.

Ms Hobhouse expressed concern about the impact of section 21 evictions, noting that more than 200,000 private renters were served with a section 21 eviction notice since the government's original commitment to ban them. She highlighted how these evictions create fear and insecurity among tenants, leaving landlords in control and making it difficult for residents to address issues such as damp and mould without risking eviction. The English housing survey found that a quarter of private renting households were finding it difficult to pay rent, particularly in the south-west where prices are soaring. Ms Hobhouse requested an intervention but did not provide a substantive contribution beyond this request.