In just over two weeks’ time, MPs are due to debate Sarah Teather’s Bill aimed at outlawing “retaliatory evictions”.
The Tenancies (Reform) Bill is due to have its second reading on November 28. It is being backed by the Government, so is highly likely to get through this stage.
However, what do MPs actually know about retaliatory evictions?
Shelter has claimed there have been 200,000 such evictions, after scaling up a survey of 4,500 private tenants.
But what do the official figures say?
Tory MP Oliver Colvile, who chairs the private rented sector All Party Parliamentary Group, tabled a written question.
In it, he asked the Department for Communities and Local Government what records it keeps of the number of retaliatory evictions; what criteria CLG uses to define retaliatory eviction; and how many retaliatory evictions took place in the last (a) 12 months and (b) five years.
In response, housing minister Brandon Lewis said: “This information is not centrally recorded.”
Comments (7)
I don't know why they don't vote to outlaw gremlins and leprechauns while they are at it – they don't know how many of them are out there, either…. Or do they?
It beats me why anybody wants to be a landlord, the grief that comes with it. Certainly there are some rouge landlords but if you are own Facebook or any other forum you would think they were all monsters! Tenants expect too much. Just yesterday I saw a post saying "my landlord has just sent me a section 21 notice and have two months to leave, can I stay until I am taken to court?" I mean two months is a fair time to find somewhere not like they are throwing them out on the streets, the reply this tenant was getting were horrific, " you stay" "yes wait to court get another 2 months" "stop paying your rent" and every name under the sun the landlord was called.
The Council in the area I work are actually telling Tenants to stay until their Landlord takes them to court.
That is exactly the same issue we have in our area. The council also send them to Shelter who then in turn tell them every trick and delaying tactic. Which we then get it in the neck when the landlord blows his/her top.
I know, it's outrageous frankly. If the tenant has been given more than two months notice to find a property, I don't see why the Council/Shelter have to make the LL's life difficult and put them to expense for 'tenants rights'. If they needed an extra day or week, then that can be worked out, but if they are in arrears or the LL has sold the property, it's unfair.
It's also a complete waste of time and money for everyone concerned. In most cases all the tenant achieves is an extra 2 to 6 months, and then has to move anyway. So the very same councils who turn to the private sector to help them house people in need, then turn round and stab those landlords in the back. Not exactly a "working relationship".
Well let's hope Government do more than just rely on Shelter figures before making laws on such important issues. Hate to think we'd have to go through another Superstrike scenario….