Flagship reforms addressing renters’ rights may trigger a surge in unlawful evictions, according to government officials. The Renters’ Reform Coalition (RRC) has expressed concerns that the current system lacks proper oversight, and the situation could deteriorate if the Renters Rights Bill is enacted. This legislation, initially pledged in 2019, aims to prohibit bidding competitions, grant tenants the right to have pets, and crucially, eliminate Section 21 evictions, commonly known as “no fault evictions,” for both new and existing leases.

The RRC has highlighted worries that landlords accustomed to using Section 21 to expel tenants might resort to illicit tactics once the bill becomes law. Illegal evictions encompass actions such as forceful evictions, intimidation, changing locks, or cutting off essential utilities like water and electricity.

Official data from the Ministry of Justice revealed over 32,000 Section 21 evictions in England last year. Contrastingly, research by Safer Renting and the University of York disclosed a minimum of 8,748 illegal evictions in England in 2022, the most recent available data. Despite this, only 26 landlords faced prosecution during the same period, equating to a prosecution rate of merely 0.3%.

Tom Darling, Director at the RRC, has urged the government to ensure that law enforcement agencies and local councils take strict action against unlawful evictions. He emphasized the urgency of addressing this clandestine crisis, where numerous renters, often already facing financial challenges, are rendered homeless by unscrupulous landlords employing aggressive tactics.

Roz Spencer, Head of Service at the renter advocacy service Safer Renting, added that an illegal eviction occurs every hour in England, underscoring the critical need for support for affected tenants. The risk of a surge in such evictions in England looms large unless authorities crack down decisively on this criminal behavior, demonstrating zero tolerance towards landlords resorting to illegal means to evict tenants.

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government affirmed that the Renters’ Rights Bill will empower councils to take stern action against landlords breaking the law, potentially leading to criminal prosecutions. This bill aims to enhance tenants’ security, rights, and protections within their homes, aligning with the government’s broader agenda for positive change in the housing sector.