Boris Johnson has revealed several major shifts in government policy for the private rented sector and, as predicted, has put evictions at the centre of the General Election housing debate.
In an article published by The Sun newspaper early this morning, Johnson has confirmed that the government will proceed with banning Section 21.
“At the moment, renting a property can also be an uncertain and unsettling business, and the costs of deposits make it harder to move. We are going to fix that,” says Johnson.
“A Conservative majority government will empower renters and give them greater peace of mind.”
The policy has been opposed by landlords and many agents because it will push all evictions into the courts, making it harder and more expensive to eject tenants who default on their rent.
But homelessness charities have welcomed the move including Shelter, whose chief executive Polly Neate says: “Reports that Conservatives plan to scrap Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions are hugely welcome.
“If enacted, this would transform private renting for millions of people by providing them with stability and security.”
Johnson has also said that if elected his government would bring in a system of transferable tenancy deposits called Lifetime Deposits which, it is claimed, is the Conservative Party’s attempt to reel in Labour-voting younger tenants.
Johnson has also announced a major overhaul of planning to enable more homes to be built and help ‘Generation Rent’ on to the property ladder.
He has promised to build a million more private and affordable homes by 2025, which would require 250,000 to be built every year.
Johnson has also revealed that the government is preparing an alternative to the Help to Buy scheme equity scheme, which is due to finish in 2023.
Both Labour and the Conservatives are expected to release their full manifestos today.