Council pays landlord to halt a authorized eviction which is a ‘clear consequence of the shortage of social housing’

As a transparent consequence of the shortage of social housing, Brent Council, unable to supply any sensible different lodging, has paid the authorized charges of a non-public landlord who was pursuing a Part 21 eviction discover.

The settlement entails the owner persevering with to offer the lodging, with the council taking up accountability for the fee of the lease.

The case has come to mild due to the involvement of a outstanding Northwest-London Lettings Agent, which dealt with the beginning of the method on behalf of their landlord shopper. The appliance for a Part 21 discover was subsequently dealt with by property-rental sector specialists LegalforLandlords.

Again in February of this 12 months, LegalforLandlords made the appliance to Willesden County Court docket. In April, possession was granted. There may be nevertheless a backlog within the enforcement course of with bailiff appointments usually taking many months to be confirmed. Some councils have been telling tenants to ‘sit tight’ till the bailiffs arrive, prolonging the distress for landlords. On this case, Brent Council, er, seems to have tried a distinct tactic.

In June, the Agent was knowledgeable that offering the Landlord was prepared to halt proceedings, the council would pay the Landlord’s authorized prices, cowl the lease arrears and pay the lease going forwards. On this case the Landlord agreed.

With many smaller-scale landlords, fearing the adjustments within the Renters Reform Invoice, now leaving the sector, this motion by Brent Council would possibly make them pause for thought. Is that this a uncommon, remoted case of a council unable to forestall a homelessness case some other manner? Or is it one thing that’s extra widespread, a sensible answer that might work for each personal landlords and tenants alike?

Sim Sekhon, LegalforLandlords MD. was stunned by the council’s actions, but additionally intrigued. He mentioned, ‘It’s price remembering that the personal Landlord on this scenario agreed to the deal, nevertheless it might be that she or he had no actual different? They have been already out of pocket and dealing with a wait of many months for a bailiff. Out of the blue there’s a suggestion made that appears to carry rapid aid and recompense. Is that an actual selection?’

There’s a scarcity of social housing – that’s not information. The query is what is going to occur in the long run? Will extra landlords discover themselves successfully compelled to offer the housing councils can’t? Will the mix of a clogged court docket system and the bailiff backlog drive pressure personal landlords to retain unsuitable tenants?