Renter fury as no-fault eviction ban likely delayed until 2026: ‘Let down yet again’

Renters have reacted with fury at reports the Renters’ Rights Bill is set to be delayed until the autumn, potentially meaning the long-awaited no-fault evictions ban will not happen until 2026.

Despite a pre-election pledge to “immediately abolish no-fault evictions”, the Labour government is facing a race to bring multiple bills through parliament ahead of the summer recess, which starts at the end of July and runs until September.

Reports from the FT said Labour is now expected to delay the Renters’ Rights Bill, which was slated to come into force this summer, until the autumn.

The Renters’ Reform Coalition said that the government is expected to include an implementation period for the bill’s powers to come into effect.

This could mean landlords will still be able to use section 21 powers, which allow them to evict a tenant without giving a reason, as late as spring 2026 – a whopping seven years after then-prime minister Theresa May promised to scrap them.

Read more:

• The Renters’ Rights Bill is a moment for celebration – but we can’t afford to stop here
• Labour’s Renters’ Rights Bill is a step forward – but there’s a glaring gap on the affordability crisis
• So-called ‘landlord exodus’ divides opinion amid Renters’ Rights Bill debate in the Lords

Tom Darling, director at the Renters’ Reform Coalition, said: “Renters will feel let down yet again on hearing that section 21 no fault evictions are now unlikely to be scrapped until 2026 – a year and a half since the government was elected on a manifesto pledge to “immediately abolish” them.

“Now we find out renters will be facing a second no-fault eviction nightmare at Christmas since this promise was made.

“Everyone needs a decent, secure home, but with every month that passes thousands more renters are faced with a no-fault eviction. The government must show a renewed impetus to get this over the line.”

No-fault evictions, or section 21 evictions as they are also known, are considered a leading driver of homelessness and have long been earmarked to be axed.

The Conservatives’ Renters Reform Bill failed to pass into law before the party was removed from power a year ago with Labour securing a landslide victory in the 2024 general election.

The Tory bill, which shares many similarities with Labour’s Renters’ Rights Bill, was the subject of delays ahead of the election with Rishi Sunak’s administration facing accusations of bowing to backbencher efforts to halt the bill.

Keir Starmer’s government was elected on a promise to succeed where the Tories had failed after Labour pledged to “immediately abolish no-fault evictions”.

Since last autumn, the government has been targeting the summer for bringing through the ban.

Big Issue founder Lord John Bird tabled an amendment at the Renters’ Rights Bill’s committee stage in the House of Lords calling for no-fault evictions to be banned as soon as the bill is granted royal assent.

“These delays are a massive setback for the 12 million renters across England,” said Dan Wilson Craw, deputy chief executive of Generation Rent.

“As well as thousands of renters who will face homelessness as a result of section 21 in the months ahead, most private renters will continue to face uncertainty over their homes as long as their landlord doesn’t need a reason to evict.

“The government’s promise to abolish the draconian section 21 is one of their most popular policies so we need to see urgency to get this into law and finally give renters much-needed stability.”

But the latest developments are a blow for renters who are hoping that the bill will redress the power balance with landlords and offer more security.

The Renters’ Rights Bill is set to change more than just no-fault evictions.

The wide-ranging legislation will see the introduction of a decent homes standard and tenants given greater rights to keep pets while also banning landlords from discriminating against tenants with children or on benefits.

Other than banning landlords and letting agents from stoking bidding wars between renters, the bill is light on measures to tackle affordability in the private rented sector. That’s despite tenants facing record-high rents.

Chris Norris, chief policy officer for the National Residential Landlords Association, said the government must offer certainty to landlords over when the legislation is likely to come into force.

“The Renters’ Rights Bill represents the biggest overhaul of the private rented sector for almost 40 years. It is vital to ensure that the changes happen as smoothly as possible for the sake of renters and responsible landlords,” said Norris.

“The government needs to be clear with everyone when it will implement its reforms. At a minimum six months will be needed to ensure the sector is fully prepared once the bill is passed by parliament.

“Work needed will include updating tenancy agreements for nearly five million households ensuring landlords, agents, tenants, councils and others fully understand the new laws; mortgage and insurance providers adjusting policies; adapting court processes as needed and ensuring letting agents can update their internal processes and IT systems.

“None of this is going to happen overnight.”

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. Big Issue exists to give homeless and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income. To support our work buy a copy of the magazine or get the app from the App Store or Google Play.