How do I evict a tenant once the new legislation passes?

18th May 2023

In England, a landlord is able to evict a tenant without any reason to bring their tenancy to an end once the fixed term of the tenancy expires. They can do this by serving a Section 21 Notice on their tenant prior to the end of the term, providing the tenant with at least 2 months’ notice, after which, they need to leave the property (subject to the landlord having complied with legislation).

The Renters Reform Bill is currently passing through Parliament, which was in local news this week, regarding the changes to section 21 notices. The legislation aims to help 11 million tenants benefit from safer, fairer and higher quality homes, which will also empower tenants to challenge poor landlords without fear of losing their home.

The exact changes to the eviction process are yet to be confirmed, but they likely mean that landlords will only be able to serve notice on tenants in specific circumstances, such as instances of anti-social behaviour or when they wish to sell the property or when they or a close family member want to move in, after six months.

The bill also makes it easier for landlords to repossess their properties in cases of anti-social behaviour or where the tenant repeatedly fails to pay rent.

What happens next?

The bill will need to pass through parliament before becoming law. 

With the government’s proposals now revealed, it will start its journey through the House of Commons and House of Lords, before receiving Royal Assent which is when it formally passes into law.

This process will likely take months, so the reforms may not be implemented until 2024.

Please contact us to discuss our full range of Landlord Legal Services and see how we can help.