The government’s plan to scrap Section 21 is personally backed by the Prime Minister and will begin formal consultations today.

If the consultations show public support, the idea could be law by the end of 2019.

Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary James Brokenshire says the proposal is “the biggest change to the private rental sector in a generation”.

In a paper to be issued today he says the government is taking action because evidence shows Section 21 evictions to be one of the biggest causes of family homelessness.

“By abolishing these kinds of evictions, every single person living in the private rented sector will be empowered to make the right housing choice for themselves – not have it made for them,” he says.

Under the government’s plans, landlords would have to provide a “concrete, evidenced reason already specified in law” in order to bring tenancies to an end.

Theresa May says the major shake-up will protect responsible tenants from “unethical behaviour” and give them the “long-term certainty and the peace of mind they deserve”.

A Ministry of Housing spokesman adds: “Court processes will also be expedited so landlords are able to swiftly and smoothly regain their property in the rare event of tenants falling into rent arrears or damaging the property – meaning landlords have the security of knowing disputes will be resolved quickly.”

Under today’s proposals landlords seeking to evict tenants would have to use Section 8, which can be implemented when a tenant has fallen into rent arrears, has been involved in criminal or antisocial behaviour or has broken terms of the rent agreement, such as damaging the property. The government says it will amend Section 8 to allow it to be used by landlords if they want to sell the property or move back in themselves. Unlike S21, tenants can challenge S8 evictions in many cases.

Trade bodies have reacted angrily to the proposal, as you can see here.