Figures across the private rented sector including TV star Paul Shamplina have warned that both tenants, landlords and letting agents need to know when the Section 21 eviction ban is going to take place.

Contained within the Renters (Reform) Bill, the abolishment will see landlords required to explain in court why they intend to evict a tenant rather than using a ‘no fault’ automatic eviction, which is what a Section 21 notice enables them to do at the moment.

But although Section 21 evictions are going, the Government has yet to give a date.

Housing minister Jacob Young (pictured) explained to MPs on Wednesday that an ‘immediate’ ban would cause chaos and that the County Court system, which handles evictions, needs time to prepare for the extra workload expected.

“There will be double the amount of hearing dates once Section 21 goes because the cases will have to go under Section 8 and breach of tenancy,” says Shamplina in a new video.

Watch the video here.

“We’re yet to see what the grounds look like with regards to Section 8, yet to see what type of mediation needs to be brought into the court system and yet to get an indicator about how much money is needed to digitise the courts and employ loads more judge and bailiffs.

“The court system needs an overhaul – and I’ve been saying this for years.”

Letting agents agree. Trade organisation Propertymark’s spokesperson Timothy Douglas says: “Throughout the passage of the Bill, we have worked hard to highlight the importance of retaining fixed-term tenancies and the need for improvements to the court system if the abolition of Section 21 is to work.

“Whilst these amendments show that Ministers have listened to our concerns there are still areas that need further clarity.”

Backtracking

The Government’s silence on when the ban will come in has prompted the Joseph Rowntree Foundation to heavily criticise the delay, saying: “The result of all the government’s backtracking is that we have now have a bill that abolishes section 21 in name only – there is no guarantee it would ever fully abolish section 21, and even then the new tenancy system set to replace it will be little better.

"This legislation is intended to give the impression of improving conditions for renters, but in fact it preserves the central power imbalance at the root of why renting in England is in crisis.”