Boris Johnson vows to end scourge of no-fault evictions to help ‘Generation Rent’

BORIS Johnson tonight announced a bumper package of measures to help ‘Generation Rent’ as he promised to finally bring an end to the scourge ‘no-fault evictions’.

More than 11million renters will be protected by the move to repeal section 21 of the Housing Act 1988, which allows landlords to take back properties without needing a reason.

At present, landlords can issue a Section 21 notice without a valid reason to tenants outside of rental contracts, giving them just eight weeks notice to find a new home.

It has left many tenants in fear of being evicted at short notice or forced to live in sub-standard accommodation because they are worried they'll be asked to leave if they complain about problems in their home.

Charities have said ending ‘no-fault evictions’ could cut homelessness by more than ten per cent.

DEPOSIT HELP

Mr Johnson also pledged to bring in a brand new scheme to allow tenants to transfer their deposits when they move homes and vowed to build one million homes by 2025.

The new Lifetime Deposit scheme will allow renters to transfer their deposit from one property to another instead of being left skint for weeks while they wait to be reimbursed from their old landlord but have to shell out for their new property.

The move - aimed to woo millennials back from Labour - will “make the process of moving home easier and cheaper,” Mr Johnson said.

And in a bid to move more renters on to the housing ladder he will promise to rip up planning laws to open up and speed-up construction of new sites and renew the Affordable Homes Programme to build one million new homes by 2025.

He also vowed to find other ways to support home ownership following the end of the Help to Buy scheme in 2023.

HOME OWNERSHIP PLEDGE

But the party could not immediately provide costings for the policies.

Mr Johnson said: “The Conservatives have always been the party of home ownership, but under a Conservative majority government in 2020 we can and will do even more to ensure everyone can get on and realise their dream of owning their home.

“At the moment, renting a property can also be an uncertain and unsettling business, and the costs of deposits make it harder to move. We are going to fix that.

“A Conservative majority government will empower renters and give them greater peace of mind.

“We will end no-fault evictions, so that landlords can’t remove tenants without good reason, and introduce Lifetime Rental Deposits so renters don’t have to save up for a new deposit while their money is tied up in an old one.

“It’s because we will get Brexit done that we can focus on helping people get on the property ladder or move up it, whereas Labour’s plans for two chaotic referendums would hold this country back.”

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick added: “A Conservative majority government will make sure we have the homes we need in every part of the country. We delivered one million homes in the last five years and we’ll deliver at least another million in the next five years.

“We’ll help renters make the leap onto the housing ladder and we’ll provide discounts for first time buyers in their local areas.

“It’s only by getting Brexit done with the Conservatives that we can concentrate on growing the number of homes and homeowners – whereas Labour would dither and delay for another year in pursuit of two more chaotic referendums.”

• GOT a news story? RING us on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk