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17/12/25 3:30 pm
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A new government guide to the Renters’ Rights Act labels Section 21 evictions a “scourge”, despite being employed under various governments for more than 35 years.
In explaining how it will abolish no-fault evictions and switch to periodic tenancies the government promises that this will be implemented in one stage, to prevent a confusing two-tier system.
It says: “To end the scourge of section 21 evictions as quickly as possible, we will introduce the new tenancy for the private rented sector in one stage.”
Landlord Action's Paul Shamplina recently made a less emotional assessment, explaining that it has given landlords a straightforward way to regain possession which in most cases has been used responsibly.
The guide also says landlords will need to provide tenants with a copy of a government-produced information sheet, detailing how the reforms may have affected the tenancy, although there is still no indication of when anything goes live, as the guide explains: “The government will publish a separate timeline outlining plans for implementation.”
The document does lay out some of the penalties including how landlords who have previously been subject to enforcement action for an offence will have to pay the maximum rent repayment order if they commit that offence again, along with those who been convicted of, or received, a financial penalty for offences under the Act.
Landlords who don’t register on the new PRS database won’t be able to get a possession order except for ASB grounds, while councils will be able to take enforcement action against those who fail to sign up to it. Repeated breaches or providing fraudulent information could land landlords with a civil penalty of up to £40,000 or criminal prosecution.
Those who fail to join the ombudsman service also face a civil penalty of up to £40,000 or criminal prosecution for continuing or repeated breaches. Tenants will also be able to seek rent repayment orders if their landlord persistently fails to join the service.
Landlords won’t be able to complain to the ombudsman about their tenants, but the guide adds: “We are exploring options for landlord-initiated mediation for landlords to resolve issued with their tenants.”
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