London Mayor Sadiq Khan is urging the Government to fulfill its promise to protect private renters, citing new analysis from City Hall revealing that over 30,000 renting households in the capital

have been subjected to Section 21 'no-fault eviction' claims since the pledge to outlaw them was made in 2019.

There are concerns that the impending ban on no-fault evictions may be driving a surge in the practice, prompting landlords to act preemptively to avoid the ban. Ministry of Justice data shows a 62% increase in 'no-fault eviction' claims in London over the past year, rising from 7,057 in 2022 to 11,457 in 2023.

The Renters (Reform) Bill, introduced to Parliament last May, aims to restrict landlords in England from evicting tenants except under specific circumstances, such as selling the property or moving in themselves or a close family member. However, delays in passing the bill, coupled with rumors of potential watering down, have raised concerns about its effectiveness.

Despite lacking formal authority over private renting, Mayor Khan is committed to advocating for London's 2.7 million private renters. With 'no-fault evictions' still legal, many Londoners face the threat of illegal evictions annually, including actions like changing locks, disposing of possessions, and harassment.

To address these challenges, the Mayor is allocating funding to the social justice charity Cambridge House to support its Safer Renting program, which assists vulnerable renters facing illegal eviction. Additionally, the Better Renting program is being bolstered to train borough housing officers to tackle common rental sector issues like mold, dampness, and landlord harassment.

Mayor Khan emphasized the urgency of renter rights, urging the Government to prioritize the Renters Reform Bill to safeguard tenants and create a fairer London for all. Photo by U.S. Embassy London, Wikimedia commons.