Tenants may win protection from eviction by rogue landlords

[Michael Browne]

Nine million private tenants in the UK could be given extra protection from landlords who try to evict them.

 

 

The government has decided to back a private member's bill, which would make it illegal to evict tenants who make justifiable complaints.

 

 

It would mean that people who complain about faulty boilers, leaky roofs or dangerous electrical items would no longer have to fear eviction.

 

 

However it is uncertain whether it will become law before next year's election.

 

 

Nevertheless the news was welcomed by campaign groups, including Shelter and Crisis.

 

 

According to Shelter, more than 200,000 people suffered from so-called "revenge" evictions last year.

 

 

The government said it would back the private member's bill from Sarah Teather, a Liberal Democrat MP, providing it only targets bad landlords - and does not stop legitimate evictions.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-29156186

[SKETCH3D]

And now another penalty on landlords which will lead to further under supply of housing as more private landlords pull out of property investment or get even pickier on the tenants they rent to.

 

All a non paying tenant needs to do now is make a fraudulent complaint about the state of the property and they can't be evicted. Very clever.

 

There are truly some morons out there making up these rules.

[Hacked_Off]

And now another penalty on landlords which will lead to further under supply of housing as more private landlords pull out of property investment or get even pickier on the tenants they rent to.

 

All a non paying tenant needs to do now is make a fraudulent complaint about the state of the property and they can't be evicted. Very clever.

 

There are truly some morons out there making up these rules.

 

Hardly very clever. All a landlord would have to do is show records of non payments and bobs your uncle a legitimate eviction!

[mariner51]

More pitfalls for LLs and hoops to jump through.

 

 

Anyway Ms Teather is standing down as an MP before the next General Election in May 15, and hopefully Messrs Cameron, Milliband and the other one will be too busy arguing over the Scottish Devo Max Bill before Burn's Night to give this Bill sufficient Parliamentary time in this Session to become law.

[SabreSheep]

Im split in two minds on this. (It has already been discussed on another thread somewhere)

 

It does return the tenant some degree of equality. However it does look like it can be abused.

 

I would support it if the complaint is initially investigated within 7 days to see if there is a case to be answered and dismissed if deemed to be malicious. Or maybe the section 21 be allowed to go ahead but the final date is delayed until the investigation is completed.

 

It does mean the LL will have to make sure that their property is up to standard if they wish to let it out.