Shamplina: Rising evictions are driven by landlords exiting, not rent arrears

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Leading evictions expert Paul Shamplina (main pic) has called out Generation Rent’s claim that private renters are “under stress like never before” as eviction activity rises within the private rented sector.

The comments have been made by its Deputy Director Dan Wilson Craw (pictured), who said the most recent eviction statistics from the Ministry of Justice suggest renters who are struggling face landlords using Section 21 evictions to remove them from properties.

The MoJ statistics show that no-fault evictions are at their highest since 2017 and that evictions for rent arrears are at their highest on record.

“Private renters are under stress like never before. The rising cost of living has pushed thousands into rent arrears, who now face homelessness as their landlords seek eviction,” says Craw.

“Even staying on top of rent is not enough for other renters, whose landlords are using Section 21 eviction notices to force them out without needing a reason. These properties will often end up back on the market at a much higher rent.” 

Covid delays

But Shamplina says the figures do not reflect the cost-of-living crisis but rather the huge bottleneck of Covid-era eviction activity finally passing through an already-creaking courts system.

“Despite the data showing that evictions and Section 21 notices have surged recently, they continue to be at very low levels compared to the millions of households within the private rented sector – our figures suggest this year some 6,000 people will be evicted via Section 21 notices by private landlords,” he says.

“We also know that an unprecedented number of landlords are selling up; 26% of landlords that served a section 21 through landlord action during the past 12 months did so because they are exiting the market. “

Nevertheless, Craw has called on the Chancellor to take emergency steps during his Autumn statement on Thursday to stop tenants being evicted by their landlords and “stop rents from worsening the cost of living crisis”.

“We need Jeremy Hunt to freeze rents, suspend no-fault evictions, and re-link Local Housing Allowance rates to market rent,” he added.

View Full Article: Shamplina: Rising evictions are driven by landlords exiting, not rent arrears

The ethics vs financial realities of paying a tenant to leave?

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Hello, We have an awkward freeloader who’s stopped paying. If it takes 6-12 months to evict him we will have a lot of unpaid rent (Yes, we can sue, but CCJ’s may go nowhere with a “paper” debtor), plus legal/court fees

View Full Article: The ethics vs financial realities of paying a tenant to leave?

Dodgy ‘guaranteed rent’ firm RHP is STILL in business, says another fed-up landlord

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Dodgy rent-to-rent firm RHP Lettings – previously exposed on TV’s Slum Landlords, Nightmare Tenants – has been up to its old tricks again.

Another fed-up landlord who has put up with late payments for years is now desperate to break free from her agreement with the London-based outfit.

The landlord – who wants to remain anonymous for fear of retribution – first signed her flat up with RHP Services (as it was known before changing its name) a few years ago and says she grew used to its poor communication, service – and excuses.

“In 2020, after finding some appalling reviews on allAgents, I got really fed up and even thought about tracking down who they were actually letting my property to,” she tells LandlordZONE. “I thought this might put pressure on them to start making payments again.”

That year, Landlord Action’s Paul Shamplina highlighted the story of a landlord who warned others not to use the company after it failed to pass on rent and mismanaged his properties. Shamplina explained how he had received numerous complaints against RHP Services/Lettings, from those in similar situations.

Read more: Don’t let this happen to you, says landlord after losing £40,500 to guaranteed rent scheme.

This landlord says her rent payments stopped again in the summer. She now wants her property back but is uncertain whether a simple year-long contract signed with RHP years ago is still valid.

“I wouldn’t want to evict anyone so I’m trying to work out what the best thing is to do,” she adds. “Looking back, I was naïve. But once you’re in their clutches it’s hard to get out.”

LandlordZONE has approached RHP Lettings for comment.

View Full Article: Dodgy ‘guaranteed rent’ firm RHP is STILL in business, says another fed-up landlord

Inventories provide landlords with a ‘last line of defence’

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Landlord and agent fears over controversial Government proposals for the private rental sector (PRS) would be eased by the adoption of a rigorous, professional inventory policy, says one industry boss.

The chief executive of No Letting Go, Nick Lyons

View Full Article: Inventories provide landlords with a ‘last line of defence’

Rents pass £1,200 for the first time

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The average rent on a newly let home in Great Britain rose to £1,204 per month in October, up £80 or 7.1% year-on-year, costing the average tenant an extra £960 each year, data reveals.

The findings from Hamptons show that rents in five regions have nudged into the next £100 price band this year

View Full Article: Rents pass £1,200 for the first time

Landlord group pushes for publication of new MEES rules

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The landlord association iHowz has written to three Government ministers urging them to publish the new domestic Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) rules so landlords can prepare to meet them in good time.

The organisation says it is worried that the new version of the EPC and accompanying Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) will be published before the MEES criteria.

View Full Article: Landlord group pushes for publication of new MEES rules