I'm sure you've not missed this one, but following our blog back in April, just a reminder that the consultation is open and will be open until 12 October 2019. It is such a huge change for the private rental section, so it is crucial that the voices of those affected are heard.

The aim of the Government is to make the private rental system a fairer system for all those involved, which is a huge challenge. Reform must balance the rights of landlords to protect and deal with their property as they wish, and as they need to, whilst protecting individuals and families from being evicted for no good reason at short notice from a place they have made home.

The reality is that is very rare for a landlord to evict a paying tenant for no good reason - there is nearly always a valid reason. Section 21 has just for a long time appeared to be the easier and faster route to eviction given the administrative delays experienced in the courts.

The only way a fairer system can be achieved, following the abolition of section 21, is by careful redrafting of the section 8 grounds and a vast improvement to the current court system. Get it wrong and it will be a disaster for landlords, tenants and the whole private rental sector.

My concern is that the amendments to section 8 grounds won't go far enough and the courts won't be able to cope with the increased volume of work brought by claims relying on section 8 grounds, which of course require a hearing to be properly determined.

Here's the link to the consultation. You can respond online, via email or by post. Get your views heard!

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/a-new-deal-for-renting-resetting-the-balance-of-rights-and-responsibilities-between-landlords-and-tenants