The number of eviction notices in England has surged by 27% in April, just before the abolition of Section 21 'no-fault' evictions. This dramatic increase – 27.1% of tenancies were affected – is a stark contrast to the historical average of 5.7%, according to data from property management platform COHO.
The analysis covered 150,000 tenancies and estimated that approximately 73,900 additional eviction notices were served since the initial announcement of plans to scrap Section 21. Of these, nearly 20,000 were issued in April alone. Vann Vogstad, Chief Executive and Co-founder of COHO, suggests that this rise is not due to landlords arbitrarily removing tenants but rather a strategic response to altered risk calculations.
Landlords may have felt compelled to act ahead of the change to mitigate future complications, as addressing issues such as significant rent arrears or anti-social behaviour could become a much more protracted process without Section 21. Mr Vogstad believes that this provision previously served as a safety net for landlords, enabling them to support tenants through temporary difficulties while retaining a clear recourse option.
The removal of Section 21 has understandably influenced landlord behaviour, leading to a more cautious approach to tenancy management. As the private rental sector adapts to the new regulatory framework, this shift may lead to more stringent tenant selection processes, potentially affecting some prospective renters' ability to access properties.