The government has insisted that its commitment to reform the courts process to help deal with evictions more effectively is not a delaying tactic to avoid the commitment to scrap Section 21.
Jacob Young, a junior minister at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, has told the committee of MPs scrutinising thew Renters Reform Bill that the legislation contains the “most significant reforms of the private rented sector in 30 years, and it is critical that we get them right.”
He insists he is as wedded to ensuring that section 21 is abolished at the earliest opportunity as anyone else, “but we have to get the system ready.”
He told MPs on the committee: “Court rules and systems need updating to reflect the new law; there is no way that this can be avoided. Furthermore, we have already fully committed to a digital system that will make the court process more efficient and fit for the modern age. Let me reassure the Committee that we are doing as much as possible before the legislative process concludes.
“The design phase of our possession process digitisation project is under way, and has more than £1m of funding. That will pave the way for the development and build of a new digital service.
“We are also working to tackle concerns about bailiff delays, including by providing for automated payments for debtors. That will reduce the need for doorstep visits, so that bailiffs can prioritise possession enforcement. We are going further with the Ministry of Justice and His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service in exploring improvements to bailiff recruitment and retention policies; we touched on that.
“It would simply be a waste of taxpayers’ money to spend millions of pounds building a new system when we do not have certainty on the legislation underpinning it. That is why we will set out more details and implementation dates in due course.”
And he concluded by saying that this was not a delaying tactic.
“There are 2.4m landlords. Urban and rural landlords, their representatives and business tell us that they have concerns about delays in the courts. We cannot simply ignore that. We have always been clear that implementation would be phased, so that the sector has time to adjust, and we committed to giving notice of the implementation dates in the White Paper last year.
“…Every one of the 11 million renters in this country has a landlord. We have had representations from all the organisations representing the 2.4m landlords in this country saying they are concerned about the courts. Trying to introduce a new system and overriding the concerns of landlords would be unwise.”
The line-by-line scrutiny of the Bill continues.
Want to comment on this story? Our focus is on providing a platform for you to share your insights and views and we welcome contributions.
If any post is considered to victimise, harass, degrade or intimidate an individual or group of individuals, then the post may be deleted and the individual immediately banned from posting in future.
Please help us by reporting comments you consider to be unduly offensive so we can review and take action if necessary. Thank you.
.jpg)
%20(002).png)
.png)
Join the conversation
Jump to latest comment and add your reply
It would simply be a waste of taxpayers’ money to spend millions of pounds building a new system when we do not have certainty on the legislation underpinning it.
Didn't stop them building HS2
The majority of landlords' main concern is the abolition of Section 21 and the new legislation which grants tenants indefinite security of tenure.
The timetable for implementation including court reforms is of interest because it allows for a planned exit. Many consider that it would be an appalling business decision to hand over their properties permanently to tenants.
Apparently, Labour proposed an amendment which would ban Section 21 as soon as the Renters Reform Bill passes into law, so that even could have been before the next General Election. However, the Government has just blocked that amendment.
Nevertheless, Labour may be able to amend the Renters Reform legislation quickly (should they take power) by secondary legislation which does not require extensive Parliamentary scrutiny. Could this include making all Section 8 grounds discretionary rather than mandatory?
It is probably the case that the date of the general election is of key significance, not the timetable for court reform. However, it is possible that the Renters Reform legislation will not pass through all the required stages before the next election, in which case Labour could have to start again if they win the next election.
Just a thought - anybody leaving properties empty at the moment because they are frightened to let them because of the loss of Section 21, LEAVE THE HEATING ON LOW. There could be a risk of burst pipes which could cause an enormous amount of damage.
I always advise to turn off mains water as well, even if go on holiday especially if theres a water tank in the loft. Ive Seen the aftermath of many flats & houses after water damage and they take months to dry out!
I set the thermostat to 10 degrees and the heating bill isn't very high.
So far no problems from water tanks in the loft.
I have just turned my mains off at the stopcock.
Make sure there is no water still in the system, Nick, because it could freeze.
Thanks Ellie. I will ensure it's drained out.
I am not an expert on this, Nick, but I believe that the pipes could still be freeze damaged. Therefore when you restore the water, there could be small leaks.
Hopefully it will be the next owner who restores the water thanks to the Renters Reform Bill ;)
The Renters Reform Bill is terrible! However, I am still trying to keep everything let - I am just being ultra-careful that new tenants will leave in a few months - leave the country, as well as the flat.
In one way it is easier than it was because I now have hardly any viewings. I just pick the one or two who seem possible.
I'm not prepared to take the chance on a new tenant.
You might be wise Nick.
Very good advice so we leave the heating on and pay double c/tax to keep the property vacant because of the RENTERS REFORM BILL. Time for Gove to go it shows how much he is out of touch with property owners
a filling up B&B’s and Hotels costing £1.7b, time to turn off that tap he left running.
We all know it’s sensible to get the courts working BEFORE they scrap 21, but, Labour have not been known for their forward thinking 🤔. If they get in…. We are so far up the creek, we won’t need a paddle 🛶
Those landlords that stay will never escape the creek either. More and more legislation will come in to stop that.
If they ‘can’t ignore landlords concerns’ then why did they propose to abolish Section 21 in the first place - it’s not like any of us said “What a terrific wheeze, unenforceable ends to tenant contracts would be a brilliant business model for us!” But stall away, stall more, stall indefinitely if it buries this appalling disaster
Well they didn't ignore landlords' concerned. They listened to the largest landlord organisation in the country; the NRLA. 100,000 members out of 2,800,000 total landlords (or 3.5% of landlords). The Chief Executive has told the government and pressure groups he doesn't have an issue with S21 being abolished. So it's all settled then!
Section 21 was fine when it was set up and worked well for years before it was interfered with by Shelter and Council’s.
Why should we have to go to Court at all, the landlords let’s to willing Renter’s of they own free Will take the property and sign the Contract for the Contract period. At the end of the Contract leave or sign for another Contract period, no need for Courts whatsoever a Business transaction it was like that, then they started the bolt on Periodic thing getting a bit frivolous about Contracts.
Then Council's started telling Tenants not to abide by the Contracts but wait for Court Order every time, that’s what filled up the Court’s Rooms,
they didn’t need a Court Order to move in. Next Question.
I share your sentiments. There's increasingly too many people. Bot enough properties. Landlords will be come more powerful hence they use a sledge hammer to crack a nut.
The builders are stopped by our planning system from building. Chief Blocker is Michael Gove stopping housing, M&S on Oxford St. Also a recent data centre in the green belt. This however was largely concealed from view, and on contaminated land! Still blocked it!
It now seems to me the Government/ Council’s don’t want people to be Housed as they are the biggest obstacle and done unimaginable damage.
OK please tell me which of their Policy’s have helped, encouraged or rewarded
Private landlords for the Housing they provide apart from none but have gone out of their way to help big Developers & Institutions.
No policies worth mentioning!
ITV News one of the biggest contributions Homelessnesses on again tonight with disgraceful allegations. The same guy on there a number of times before on about 138000 Children in B&B and hostel’s.
He said 6640 Section 21 notices were issued but never said once the reason for the surge.
The Renters Reform Bill removing S.21 the back bone of Housing supply for decades also never mentioned Section 24 taxing on an legitimate Business expense.
Disgraceful Mis-Reporting and totally irresponsible by ITV causing more Homelessness,
not fit for purpose or to run the Channel.
No right to reply no landlord represented or any one to correct him or challenge his false reporting.
ITV are almost as bad as the BBC and I no longer watch the news on either channel.
I understand some people here are keeping their properties empty, so how are they paying all the costs like mortgages, at least the interest and CT and other bills? I believe the RRB will not come into effect for at least a year, so I have currently rented all my properties. From next year the student properties will continue to be rented out, whilst others will be placed for sale.
I always made sure I was self sufficient and could pay all the bills when the property was empty or not. In case I had a non paying tenant / legal fees / a disaster etc. It's extra money only. I don't want to keep it empty but I will not comply with the RENTERS REFORM BILL at all. All this mould issues (I actually had), repair work, compensation claim to defend, lawyer for S21, legal aid TO ALL TENANTS. It's time to go.
It's only empty because of a bad market.... Time of year too. I'm painting it up to look more respectable but not refurbing it as agent says don't bother.
Vibha, there is uncertainty over the timetable for the RRB.
It might not have finished its passage through Parliament before the next election which could be beginning of May 2024. The Bill would then end/fail. Labour has its own agenda, and has pledged to end Section 21 notices on taking office. What will be their policy on student lets?
Alternatively, if the RRB has passed all the requisite Parliamentary stages, Labour could pass secondary legislation ending Section 21 quickly that way.
There is also the possibility of an immediate eviction ban on Labour taking office.
Vibha. Because its better empty than full of trouble. I never depended on Property to pay for itself and always worked and put my hard earned tax paid money into the property that’s what makes it such a sore point to be attack, targeted, criminalised, robbed, despised and hated for providing roofs for others.
Please login to comment