New government figures show how overdue the government’s reform of private renting is, claims campaigning charity Shelter.

The charity says the figures show 24,060 households were threatened with homelessness in England as a result of a Section 21 eviction in 2022 – a figure it claims is 50 per cent higher than in 2021. 

In addition some 290,330 households faced homelessness in 2022 in England – a rise of six per cent compared to the year before. 

The figures come just as the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has admitted that there’s a further delay to the publication of the Renters’ Reform Bill. 

The Bill was to have been launched this week but the government says “procedural issues” have caused a delay.

In reality, there is speculation that Conservative backbenchers are unhappy with the anti-landlord tone of the proposals.

The government has now said it will be introducing the long-awaited Bill soon, which will scrap these evictions. 

Shelter is urging the government to bring forward this legislation and demands that “it’s as strong as possible, with every loophole closed, so that no renter can be unfairly evicted.”

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, says: “For too long struggling private tenants have been trapped in an insecure and unstable private rented sector with the constant worry of being one no-fault eviction notice away from homelessness.  

“Every day our frontline services hear from desperate families who are facing the very real prospect of homelessness after an eviction. 

“The cost of living crisis coupled with paying through the nose for insecurity and disrepair in the private rented sector where competition for rentals is fierce means that there are little to no options for tenants who are forced out of their homes. 

“Renters have been promised these reforms for four long years, they can’t wait any longer. The government must immediately bring forward the long-promised Renters’ Reform Bill which will scrap Section 21 no-fault evictions for good.”