Thank you for contacting me about Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
Many tenants live with the worry of being evicted at short notice or endure poor accommodation for fear they will be asked to leave if they complain about problems with their home. This is a problem that must be tackled.
The Government is standing by its manifesto commitment to abolish 'no fault' Section 21 evictions - one of the largest causes of family homelessness. Reforming the current tenancy system will provide more security to private renters and give them the confidence to properly settle down in their homes.
Under proposals set out in the 'A Fairer Private Rented Sector' White Paper, all tenants will be moved onto a single system of periodic tenancies. This would give tenants greater security while retaining the flexibility that attracts many to the private rented sector. A tenancy would only come to an end if the tenant chooses to leave or if the landlord has a valid ground for possession. Tenants would need to give two months’ notice when leaving a tenancy which would ensure that landlords can avoid lengthy void periods.
It is important that providing tenants with this greater security is balanced with an assurance that landlords are able to recover their properties where they have valid reason to do so. This is vital to ensuring the future supply of good-quality housing in the private rented sector. The Government has said it will reform grounds of possession so that the system is comprehensive, fair and effective. In addition, improvements will be made to court processes to ensure that disputes are resolved quickly and smoothly.
I appreciate the importance of allowing time for a smooth transition to this new system and I am assured that tenants, landlords and agents will be supported as they adjust.
More generally, on the Island, we need housing built in modest numbers, for Islanders, in towns and on brownfield sites. We do not need unsustainable, low-density urban sprawl which has a negative impact on the environment. I recently led a planning rebellion and fought the case for local communities to be at the heart of planning systems. The changes we will see will mean the Isle of Wight Council will be able to take more action to compulsory purchase long-term vacant or derelict buildings, housing targets will be advisory instead of mandatory, brownfield land will be prioritised over greenfield sites, developers who sit on land with planning permission will potentially face financial penalties for doing so and the government will enable councils to crack down on cowboy developers. We need the right type of properties built in the right areas for local people.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.