Michael Gove Hesitates on No-Fault Eviction Ban Before Election
Michael Gove, the housing secretary, cannot guarantee that "no-fault" evictions will be banned in England before the next general election.
The Conservatives had previously promised to end landlords' ability to evict tenants without a reason in 2019.
In February, Gove told the BBC that such evictions would be "outlawed" by the next election.
However, during the debate on the Renters (Reform) Bill in the Commons, which aims to abolish no-fault evictions, Gove only expressed his hope that it would become law, leaving the final decision to the House of Lords.
The government had to water down some of the protections for renters in the bill, including the original promise to abolish no-fault evictions.
Conservative MPs expressed concerns about the impact of ending no-fault evictions on landlords.
In February, Michael Gove, the housing secretary, promised to have abolished no-fault evictions by the election and provided funding for courts to enforce it.
However, on Tuesday, Gove stated that the progress of the bill in the House of Lords determines whether Section 21 will be ended before the general election.
He believes opposition parties support the principle of ending no-fault evictions.
A peer in the UK's House of Lords expressed hope that the bill to end no-fault evictions will be passed before the upcoming election.
He plans to continue advocating for the bill's passage and is optimistic about its progress in the Lords.
The outcome of the Lords' consideration of the bill remains to be seen.