The number of no-fault evictions has increased in the past few months. Data from the Ministry of Justice shows county court bailiffs made nine repossessions under a Section 21 notice in Mid Sussex from April to June this year, up from six in the same period last year. Under a Section 21 notice, landlords can evict tenants with two months' notice without a reason, something the Labour government hopes to ban under the Renters’ Rights Bill.
The evictions followed a court repossession order being made after a tenant refused to leave the property despite being served a Section 21 notice. Landlords in Mid Sussex applied for a further 31 accelerated possession orders after Section 21 notices were ignored. READ MORE: Landlords try to evict nearly 100 Brighton households in three months The statistics are in line with the national picture, as across England and Wales, the number of repossessions has reached the highest level in six years, with 32,789 no-fault eviction claims submitted to courts across the country in 2023-2024.
Tom Darling, director of the Renters’ Reform Coalition, said although the government has pledged to end no-fault evictions, "renters cannot afford to wait much longer". He added: "We must see legislation brought forward soon to get a grip on the situation and address the renting crisis." The government said it will "take action where the previous government has failed" and protect renters – including ending no-fault evictions.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Star.