I have spent over two decades representing housing providers, and I know this: our courts are buckling under the weight of cases. Now, Labour’s misguided changes to the eviction process threaten to make things worse for landlords, tenants, and our entire justice system.
The Conservatives proposed the abolition of Section 21, ‘no fault’ evictions, but proposed that it would still give landlords the right to recover possession where a tenant was in serious breach. They also wanted to allow the court system time to recover from the post-pandemic backlog before laying an additional burden on them. However, the new Labour government is now rushing in these changes and this is likely to push all possession claims through an already overstretched court system, creating longer waits and more uncertainty. That doesn’t help anyone – it simply delays justice for good landlords and vulnerable tenants alike.
I believe in balanced housing reform. Yes, rogue landlords must be held accountable – but we must also protect the right of responsible landlords to reclaim possession when a tenant fails to pay the rent, causes significant damage, or is a serial nuisance to others.
I want to see a housing system that works for everyone. That means reforming, not wrecking, legal frameworks. And it means restoring faith in the fairness, speed, and accessibility of our justice system.