A collection of rental sector protest organisations is getting together to campaign against S21 powers under which landlords or agents on their behalf can evict tenants.

The group is called ‘End Unfair Evictions’ and whilst its publicity material for a proposed meeting in east London on July 5 does not mention its component organisations, press reports over the weekend suggested they included Generation Rent, Shelter and Acorn – the latter being a body which in the past has held demonstrations outside letting agents’ offices.

The publicity material makes explicit reference in praise of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who “recently restated his support for abolishing section 21”.

The group’s full statement about the meeting reads: “Section 21 – the clause of the 1988 Housing Act that allows landlords to evict tenants without having to give a reason – is the number one cause of homelessness in England, strengthens landlords against renters, makes tenants afraid to complain about poor conditions and fuels the runaway buy-to-let investment market. 

“We must scrap it if we are to make renting a safe, secure and fair alternative to buying a home for the 11 million people in England who rent from a private landlord.

“The national campaign to End Unfair Evictions – launched in June – is already making an impact. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn recently restated his support for abolishing section 21, and Shelter’s position is shifting in favour of our demands too. The government are currently examining the laws on renting and now is the time to escalate the campaign to put pressure on politicians to act.

“At this meeting, we will start to plan some creative ways to take on this unjust law. We will work on media and messaging, demonstrations and direct action, political strategy and lobbying, and policy and research. All are welcome – there will be a role for people with all kinds of campaign skills, as well as those totally new to activism, in this project.”