A Labour activist has written to the government urging a ban on what she calls ‘heartless’ Section 21 evictions.

Milton Keynes councillor Emily Darlington claims such evictions have affected dozens of families in Milton Keynes over the past year.

She says MK has seen a steady increase in Section 21 evictions and that between April and December 2021, 66 local families were forced to leave their homes. 

One in three homelessness approaches to the council apparently also had been served a valid Section 21 notice during this time.

Now Darlington has written to Housing Secretary Michael Gove urging him to fulfil a Tory election pledge to ban Section 21s.

She writes: “It has now been two and a half years since the Conservative Government pledged to end no-fault evictions, but hundreds of families have been forced out of their homes since then.

“Every Section 21 notice is a family that loses their home by no fault of their own. They have paid their rent and taken care of the property; they have made friends with their neighbours and sent their children to local schools. 

“This disruption affects the stability of the family, the education of their children, and causes great stress to everyone involved. It also puts vulnerable, helpless families at risk of homelessness.

“I have written to the government highlighting the detrimental impact that these heartless and unethical notices have had on local families, and I would like to see them banned before more damage is done.”