Tenants over-55 hit with a no-fault eviction notice every 16 minutes

Tenants over-55 hit with a no-fault eviction notice every 16 minutes
Shelter wants Section 21 scrapped as nearly three in ten older renters fear eviction

In England, a no-fault eviction notice drops through the letterbox of an older private renter every 16 minutes, new research from Shelter reveals.

The housing charity’s alarming research, conducted by YouGov and funded by The Co-operative Bank, shines a spotlight on the struggle older renters face in keeping a roof over their heads. Nearly three in ten (28%) private tenants over the age of 55 – which equates to 400,000 people – live in fear of being evicted by their landlord.

People who receive Section 21 notices have only two months to move out and their landlords do not have to give a reason for evicting them. But a third of all private renters (34%) say, the last time they moved, it took them longer than two months to find a new privately rented home.

Now that Parliament is back from its summer break, Shelter is urging the government to finally scrap no-fault evictions and protect at-risk renters from the threat of Section 21.

Shelter warns delays to the Renters (Reform) Bill are harming the health of thousands of older tenants. Research from Shelter and The Co-operative Bank found that a quarter (25%) of renters aged over 55 say worrying about eviction is negatively impacting their mental or physical health, while one in four (24%) said housing problems or worries had made them feel physically sick in the past year.

The gross instability caused by Section 21 no-fault evictions means the rental sector is not fit for purpose for the growing number of older tenants who call it home. Nearly one fifth (19%) of adult private renters in England are over 55 – this up by 31% in the past decade.

Shelter is calling on the government to make passing the Renters (Reform) Bill a top priority.

Polly Neate, Chief Executive of Shelter, said: “Older renters may already be retired or planning for retirement at this point in their lives. They shouldn’t have knots in their stomachs, constantly afraid that their landlord is going to kick them out of their home for no reason.

“We hear from hundreds of over-55s who have worked for decades in search of safety and security later in life. It’s a disgrace that so many are being stripped of a stable home by the gross injustice of Section 21 no-fault evictions.

“Instead of forcing older renters to pay over the odds for often shoddy rentals that leave them sick with worry, the government must keep its word, and get the Renters (Reform) Bill over the line. Tenants are tired of waiting for a system that makes private renting safe and fair for all.”

CASE STUDY: Jeanette, 64, moved from Banbury to East Sussex three years ago, after receiving a Section 21 no-fault eviction notice from her previous landlord. She was hit with her second no-fault eviction in July, which has seriously impacted her health, and left her facing the very real threat of homelessness once her notice expires in September. Jeanette’s landlord also runs a business from the bottom of her garden, with strangers coming and going through her garden. This has made Jeanette’s anxiety worse and made her afraid to leave the house.

Jeanette said: “I’ve never been so frightened, even hanging a bit of washing out is stressful. Every time I go into the garden, the landlord asks me about moving out.

“That piece of paper telling you are being evicted makes you makes you feel like you’re nothing. I couldn’t have a say or defend myself in court. It’s a done deal. It’s just not right. I feel like I’m shut in a box and there’s no way out. You don’t feel like the house you live in is your home.

“I’ve been looking for somewhere else. I viewed one place which met all my needs and said I’ll take it. They said I could have it if I paid six months up front, which came to £7,200 plus a guarantor. How is someone on a low income and disability benefits supposed to find £7,000 plus the £267 for references? I feel discriminated against for being disabled.”

Nick Slape, Chief Executive Officer at The Co-operative Bank, said: “Fighting inequality across the UK is extremely important to our customers, and that’s why we’re campaigning for better rights for renters alongside Shelter.

“We know the private rented system in this country needs urgent reform and this new research shows just how desperate the situation has become.

“Together with our partner Shelter we are calling on the government to prioritise the Renters (Reform) Bill now, to protect tenants across the country and deliver lasting change.”

Anyone who is worried about losing their home can contact Shelter for free and expert advice by visiting www.shelter.org.uk/get_help.