Jun

Need to abolish Section 21 more pressing following Covid, says Age UK

admin

Age UK has joined the chorus of charities and
housing groups calling for Section 21 eviction notices to be abolished.

With the Government’s decision expected soon following
its consultation, the later life charity hopes it will keep its promise to
protect more than
750,000 people over 60 who rent privately.

Age UK says ‘skyrocketing
rents’ leave one in three older renters in poverty after paying rent.

It believes
that they’re often too scared of what their landlord might do if they cause a
fuss and says landlords can evict older renters at short notice even when
they’ve done nothing wrong – which could leave some homeless.

Caroline Abrahams, Age UK’s charity director, tells LandlordZONE: “Before the pandemic Age UK was firmly of the view that abolishing Section 21 was the right thing to do and, if anything, the really difficult circumstances that many older renters now find themselves in further strengthen our support for it.

Older renters

“Older renters have a lot to worry about already, without the risk
of having to leave against their wishes and at a time when finding somewhere
else to live is likely to be hard, once the Government lifts its prohibition on
evictions.

“Doing away with Section 21 would create a fairer relationship
between them and their older tenants and we hope it will press ahead soon.”

The current stay in possession proceedings has been extended until
23^rd August, while notice periods have been extended to 30^th
September.

The Government has yet to confirm whether it’s going to follow the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee recommendation that once the courts re-open, they should be given discretion to dismiss Section 21 notices until 31^st December.

Read our guide to Section 21 notices.

View Full Article: Need to abolish Section 21 more pressing following Covid, says Age UK