Thousands of renters across the UK face the looming threat of eviction as delays in implementing the Renters’ Rights Bill continue to leave tenants unprotected. The legislation, designed to ban no-fault evictions and enhance security for renters, has yet to be enacted, creating a precarious situation for many. Campaigners have raised alarms over the use of Section 21 orders, which currently allow landlords to evict tenants without providing justification, often leaving individuals and families with little time to find alternative housing. The uncertainty surrounding the timeline for the bill’s passage has heightened fears that a significant number of renters could lose their homes before these protections come into effect, underscoring the urgent need for action to safeguard tenant rights and prevent unnecessary displacement.
Urgent Need for Reform: The Growing Eviction Crisis Amid Legislative Changes
The proposed legislation, currently awaiting final stages in Parliament, includes measures to:
- Abolish no-fault evictions.
- Empower tenants to challenge unfair rent hikes.
- Hold landlords accountable for unresolved maintenance, such as mould.
But according to the Renters Reform Coalition (RRC), 15,637 households could face evictions in the first half of 2025. This figure represents a 12.2% increase compared to the same period last year, based on Ministry of Justice data.
Lucy Tiller, RRC policy manager, highlighted the stark reality: “Since the last government pledged in 2019 to ban Section 21s, over 100,000 households have been threatened with homelessness, and 1,000,000 have received Section 21 evictions.”
A Growing Crisis in Numbers
| Year | Estimated Evictions (First Half) | Percentage Increase |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 13,935 | – |
| 2024 | 14,659 | 5.2% |
| 2025 (Projected) | 15,637 | 12.2% |
The projected surge reflects a race among landlords to use Section 21 orders before the law changes.
Discriminatory Practices Under Scrutiny
Beyond evictions, the bill addresses entrenched inequalities within the rental market. One amendment would ban landlords from demanding more than a month’s rent upfront. Housing charity Shelter has labelled this a “discriminatory practice” that disproportionately impacts low-income renters.
Polly Neate, Shelter’s chief executive, stated, “With benefit recipients nearly twice as likely to be blocked from renting by demands for rent upfront, the Government is absolutely right to use the Renters’ Rights Bill to reign this discriminatory practice in.”
Yet Neate insists that this alone is insufficient:
- Rent increases: Tenants are often forced to relocate due to unaffordable hikes. In 2024, 900 renters per day moved because of a rent increase they couldn’t sustain.
- Guarantor demands: Unnecessary requirements for guarantors exclude renters from accessing housing.
Neate called for a cap on rent increases tied to inflation or wage growth to ensure long-term affordability.
Government Vision vs. Ground Realities
A spokesperson for the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government reaffirmed the government’s intent to overhaul the private rental sector:
“Our Renters’ Rights Bill will deliver on our promise to transform the private rented sector, so that people can put down roots and save for the future without fear of being evicted on a whim”
The ministry also emphasised its broader housing strategy, including plans to deliver the largest expansion of social and affordable housing in a generation.
Demand for Swift Action: Addressing Systemic Inequities in Renters’ Rights
The delay in implementing the Renters’ Rights Bill exposes renters to continued exploitation. Campaigners argue that incremental changes won’t suffice:
- Immediate action to ban Section 21 orders is essential.
- Comprehensive caps on rent hikes and guarantor requirements are necessary to address systemic inequities.
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