RENTERS have paid a “heavy price” for the Tories’ “foot-dragging” on banning no-fault evictions, Labour said today.

The opposition and campaigners say that tens of thousands of tenants have lost their homes since the government first proposed a change to section 21 of the Housing Act 1988, which allows no-fault evictions.

The Renters (Reform) Bill, which includes government plans for measures intended to improve conditions in the rental market, was expected to be heard in the Commons after the Star went to press.

The change was first proposed by the government in April 2019, before being included in the Conservatives’ manifesto later that year.

This comes as a secret letter to Tory MPs from Housing Secretary Michael Gove revealed that the proposed ban is to be delayed indefinitely.

The letter says the government will “reform the courts before we abolish section 21.”

Labour said today that 71,310 households have been hit by section 21 evictions since April 2019 and that 21,332 households have had bailiffs kick them out.

Shadow housing secretary Angela Rayner said: “After four and half years of foot-dragging over Tory promises, there can be no more dither and delay in ending no-fault evictions.

“At the height of a cost-of-living crisis, tenants have been left paying a heavy price for the government’s inaction, with tens of thousands threatened with homelessness and receiving visits from the bailiffs.”

Generation Rent chief executive Ben Twomey said: “The government needs to act now to abolish no-fault evictions in order to give renters greater security.  

“Section 21 no-fault evictions have caused misery for millions of renters since they were introduced 35 years ago.

“They rip families apart, they force people to move away from their work and friends and are a leading cause of homelessness in our country.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan urged the government to not delay the Bill after new City Hall analysis revealed that an average of 290 renters a week have faced a no-fault eviction in the capital since 2019.

“For too long, landlords have been able to take advantage of exploitative no-fault evictions, which leave renters vulnerable, simply because the government refuses to act,” he said.

Housing Minister Rachel Maclean said the government was delivering on its manifesto pledge to create a “fairer private rented sector.”