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Shelter warns over-55s served Section 21 eviction notice every 16 minutes
Private renters over the age of 55 are served with a Section 21 eviction notice every 16 minutes, according to Shelter.
The figure was based on a YouGov survey for the homelessness charity, of which 341 respondents were private renters in England aged 55 and over.
A total of 7% of older private renters were aware they had received a Section 21 notice within the past three years. Projected across England, this is equivalent to a daily rate of 90 older renters, or one every 16 minutes, the researchers said.
A different study of 875 renters aged over 55 – which was commissioned by Shelter, conducted by YouGov and funded by the Co-operative Bank – found that 28% of older private tenants feared they might be evicted by their landlord.
Researchers said this equates to 400,000 people across England as a whole.
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A quarter of older renters said worrying about eviction was negatively impacting their mental or physical health, while 24% said housing problems or worries had made them feel physically sick in the past year.
A total of 13% of older respondents said their mental health had been affected due to their landlord not dealing with repairs and poor conditions in their property within the past five years.
Nearly one-fifth (19%) of adult private renters in England are over 55, compared to 14.6% in 2011-12. The number of older renters has increased by 31% over the past decade.
People who receive a Section 21 notice have two months to move out and their landlords do not have to give a reason for evicting them.
The government is attempting to ban so-called ‘no-fault’ evictions in its Renters’ Reform Bill, which is currently going through parliament.
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “Older renters may already be retired or planning for retirement at this point in their lives. They shouldn’t have knots in their stomachs, constantly afraid that their landlord is going to kick them out of their home for no reason.
“We hear from hundreds of over-55s who have worked for decades in search of safety and security later in life. It’s a disgrace that so many are being stripped of a stable home by the gross injustice of Section 21 no-fault evictions.
“Instead of forcing older renters to pay over the odds for often shoddy rentals that leave them sick with worry, the government must keep its word, and get the Renters’ Reform Bill over the line. Tenants are tired of waiting for a system that makes private renting safe and fair for all.”
Nick Slape, chief executive of The Co-operative Bank, said: “We know the private rented system in this country needs urgent reform and this new research shows just how desperate the situation has become.
“Together with our partner Shelter we are calling on the government to prioritise the Renters’ Reform Bill now, to protect tenants across the country and deliver lasting change.”
A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson said: “The Renters (Reform) Bill currently going through Parliament will deliver a fairer, more secure, and higher quality private rented sector. It will abolish Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions to deliver the government’s commitment to a better deal for renters and landlords – improving the system for responsible tenants and good landlords.”
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