Need to abolish Section 21 more pressing following Covid, says Age UK

Age UK has joined the chorus of charities and housing groups calling for Section 21 eviction notices to be abolished.

With the Government’s decision expected soon following its consultation, the later life charity hopes it will keep its promise to protect more than 750,000 people over 60 who rent privately. 

Age UK says ‘skyrocketing rents’ leave one in three older renters in poverty after paying rent.

It believes that they’re often too scared of what their landlord might do if they cause a fuss and says landlords can evict older renters at short notice even when they’ve done nothing wrong – which could leave some homeless.

Caroline Abrahams, Age UK’s charity director, tells LandlordZONE: “Before the pandemic Age UK was firmly of the view that abolishing Section 21 was the right thing to do and, if anything, the really difficult circumstances that many older renters now find themselves in further strengthen our support for it.

Older renters

“Older renters have a lot to worry about already, without the risk of having to leave against their wishes and at a time when finding somewhere else to live is likely to be hard, once the Government lifts its prohibition on evictions.

“Doing away with Section 21 would create a fairer relationship between them and their older tenants and we hope it will press ahead soon.”

The current stay in possession proceedings has been extended until 23^rd August, while notice periods have been extended to 30^th September.

The Government has yet to confirm whether it’s going to follow the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee recommendation that once the courts re-open, they should be given discretion to dismiss Section 21 notices until 31^st December.

Read our guide to Section 21 notices.

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