More households threatened with no-fault evictions in Wiltshire than before pandemic
They've been described as “blunt, brutal and indiscriminate"
Nearly three times more households during Autumn last year were threatened with homelessness through no fault evictions in Wiltshire, compared to the same period before the pandemic.
New figures from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities shows 35 households in Wiltshire were made homeless or put at risk of homelessness between October and December last year after being served with section 21 notices.
Those notices can provide tenants with as little as eight weeks to leave, sometimes without reason.
During the same time period in 2019, just 12 were issued.
Across England, 5,260 households faced homelessness due to no-fault evictions in the last three months of 2021 – a 37% rise compared to 2019.
Shelter, a charity working to end homelessness, has described no-fault evictions as “blunt, brutal and indiscriminate".
Chief executive, Polly Neate, said:
“If landlords follow the process, as it stands they can turf people out of their homes for no reason– and tenants are powerless to do anything about it.”
The same Government data shows, in total, 130 households were found to be homeless in Wiltshire between October and December, the same amount as 2019.
NO FAULT EVICTIONS TO BE ABOLISHED
In the Queen's speech delivered by Prince Charles, it was confirmed that the government have to pledged that no fault evictions will be abolished in the new Renters Bill.
The Renters Reform Bill will provide security for tenants in the private rented sector by ending Section 21 notices.
It will also "strengthen landlords' rights of possession", therefore providing a "fair and effective" market for tenants and landlords, the Government has said.
It will also introduce an ombudsman so disputes between private landlords and tenants can be resolved without going to court.