Lib Dems would scrap Section 21

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Banning Section 21:

Following
Labour’s example, the Liberal Democrats have passed a motion at
their conference which would result in the scrapping of the Section
21, the “no fault, no blame� eviction process, if they ever came
to power, or have any influence in a coalition, after the next
general election.

Removing Section 21 is currently under review by the Conservative government, and it is also the policy of any incoming Labour government.

The
Liberal Democrat members’ vote for the policy, which has been
mooted within the party for some time, was by an overwhelming
majority.

The Conference commitment on Section 21 and other private rented sector (PRS) reforms by the Liberal Democrats was to:

• Reform
  the private rental market generally
  to make it fairer for
  private renters.
• Provide
  support for private renters to enable them to safely report health
  and safety issues in rented properties.
• Support
  renters by enabling local authorities to create and maintain
  registers of landlords providing private rental properties for
  lease.

The
Conference specifically called for:

• The
  abolition of S21 by reforming
  of the Housing Act 1988.
• The
  reform of court process (as has happened in Scotland) to enable
  landlords to have easier access to justice if tenants are found to
  be in breach of their tenancy agreements.
• Further
  work to be undertaken with tenant and landlord organisations and
  groups to explore the opportunities for further reform and
  improvement of the private rental sector, such as revising the
  current assured short-hold tenancy legislation to encourage the use
  of long-term tenancies as a standard.

Tim
Farron, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary for Housing, Communities
and Local Government commented on the proposals saying:

“People
in this country are demanding a safe, secure home to live in. Yet the
Tories have failed to fulfil their promises to end “no fault
evictions� leaving many at the mercy on unscrupulous landlords.
Liberal Democrats demand better.

“That’s
why it’s fantastic that Liberal Democrats have passed this motion.
It is vital that the private rented market is made fairer for
renters, while we have a duty to support landlords who are doing the
right thing too.

“We
cannot stand by while tenants are turfed out of their homes through
no fault of their own – that’s why we’re demanding that this
Tory government do what they’ve said they will. And if they don’t,
they should make way for a party who would.”

David
Cox, Chief Executive of ARLA Propertymark has since responded by
saying:

“The
vote at the Liberal Democrat Conference is another attack on the
private rental sector and landlords operating within it.

“The
effects of the tenant fees ban have not yet been felt, and yet more
proposed legislation could deter landlords from operating in the
market. Although in the majority of cases there is no need for
Section 21 to be used, there are times when a landlord has no choice
but to take action and evict tenants from a property.

“The
proposed commitment will only increase pressure on the sector and
discourage new landlords from investing in buy-to-let properties.
This comes at a time when demand is dramatically outpacing supply,
and rent costs are rising.

“ARLA
Propertymark will be engaging with the Liberal Democrats to ensure
they fully understand the consequences of any changes, and all
changes are based on evidence, so landlords have the ability to
regain their properties if needed.�

The
ongoing Section 21 consultation

ARLA
Propertymark is urging its members to respond to the current UK
Governments, “A new deal for renting: resetting the balance of
rights and responsibilities between landlords and tenants�,
consultation, which is seeking views on implementing the Government’s
views on removing Section 21 and improving Section 8 eviction
grounds. Have your say:

The Section 21 consultation

What ARLA Propertymark is doing

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