Homelessness surges while government drags feet on scrapping no-fault evictions

Landlords used the Section 21 noticed on tens of thousands last year

The government promised to ban the noticed four years ago but is yet to act (Getty Images)

The number of people being made homeless by landlords issuing no-fault eviction notices surged last year while the government drags its feet on banning the practice, new official figures show.

The plan to abolish so-called Section 21 evictions was first announced over four years ago by prime minister Theresa May – but ministers have yet to even publish legislation for MPs to vote on.

Now new figures published by the government on Wednesday show 24,060 households were threatened with homelessness in England as a result of a Section 21 notice in 2022 – 50 per cent higher than in 2021.