Rental activists have made clear that they are not going to stop when their objective to scrap Section 21 eviction powers is achieved.

Section 21 is widely expected to be scrapped in a rental reform White Paper expected to be released by the government in the coming weeks. 

This follows a long running, vocal and well-funded campaign by organisations like the Renters Reform Coalition, which is funded by the Nationwide Foundation. One member group in the coalition – Acorn – was last week ordered to pay just under £100,000 in costs and damages to a landlord, to settle a legal case for harassment, defamation and breach of data rights.

Now Generation Rent – another part of the coalition – has set out in a series of tweets what may be the next phase of a campaign to erode landlords’ rights.

The tweets read: “When Section 21 evictions are abolished, it is likely more landlords will begin using Section 13 rent increases to force tenants out. These notices can be challenged at the Rent Tribunal, but in a 30-month period it heard just 341 cases.

“On average, tenants came away with an 11% increase in their rent in one go. This is because the tribunal bases its decisions on how much similar properties to your home are listed for nearby, and not what you can afford.

“The average rent rise is equivalent to 5.5% per year – much higher than rent inflation nationwide, and higher than wage inflation.”

The tweets from Generation Rent go on: “Landlords ask for 28% more rent on average. As the tribunal takes into account poor conditions of the property, in 77% of cases private tenants get a lower rent increase than the landlord had asked for. But nearly 1 in 4 have to pay the proposed rent – or even more 

“While few renters use the system currently, those that do often find themselves forced to pay unaffordable new rent increases or find somewhere else to live. Before the system becomes more extensively used, it needs essential reform.

“Landlords shouldn’t be able to serve Section 13s if they don’t meet basic standards, rent increases should be capped at wage inflation and the government must raise awareness of the tribunal to prevent more renters suffering from unaffordable increases.”