Despite written advice from the government last year some local authorities are still advising tenants to ignore eviction notices served by their landlords until the bailiffs come knocking. This is to ensure they qualify as homeless and are eligible for re-housing. The National Landlords Association found that a staggering 47%  of tenants served a section 21 notice were told to ignore it by their local council, the Citizens Advice Bureau and/or Shelter.

Not only does this advice cost private landlords on average £7,000 per eviction, but it dissuades them from letting to vulnerable tenants or those claiming benefits in the future and reduces the confidence private landlords have in local authorities.

To address this issue which is detrimental to all parties involved the government is introducing the Homelessness Reduction Bill with the aim of preventing homelessness by:

• Providing that Section 21 notices evidence an applicant is threatened with homelessness, and

• Doubling the definition of ‘threatened with homelessness’ from 28 to 56 days.

Some local authorities may see this as increasing the burden on them to discharge their duties in relation to homelessness, but by providing tenants with the right advice at the right time, and not forcing private sector landlords to empty their pockets to regain possession of their properties, the same landlords will be on hand and willing to let to tenants threatened with homelessness.

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