- 09/03/2018
- Posted by: Mike Hedges MS
- Category: Press Releases
MIKE HEDGES AM CALLS SUPPORTS CALLS FOR GREATER PROTECTION FOR PRIVATE RENTED TENANTS THROUGH REPEAL OF SECTION 21 OF 1988 HOUSING ACT.
Local AM Mike Hedges has called during a debate at the Senedd for private rented sector tenants to be afforded greater protection from eviction through repeal of Section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act which gives landlords the power to evict tenants without giving good reason.
This Section of the Act is often used to evict tenants and families who complain about the poor state of a property and repairs not being carried out.
Speaking after the debate, Mike Hedges said…. I have dealt with many cases over the years where Landlords try to evade responsibilities by evicting tenants, often families with Children who just want to live in decent accommodation. Landlords should have to present a proper case why they wish to evict a tenant. The law at present favours the landlord over the tenant and we need to redress the balance through repealing Section 21 and affording private tenants in Wales the same protections available to Housing Association and Council tenants.
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Can I thank Julie Morgan for bringing this debate? I don’t think we talk about housing in this place anywhere near enough. If we talked about it half as much as health, we might have a healthier place. 562
We’ve had a growth of private rented accommodation and a shortage of accommodation. The pressure is on private renters. Are we really telling people, ‘Don’t complain, don’t object’, no matter what the landlord does or how poor the accommodation is, or how many repairs remain to be done, because the landlord can use section 21 to evict you and your children? And, whilst you can try and defend it in court, the likelihood of winning is probably fairly low.