Ipswich saw its highest number of 'no-fault' evictions last year, with 111 accelerated possession orders submitted to county courts.
The big picture: These figures, released by the Ministry of Justice, show a significant increase from 84 orders the previous year. It's the highest number since records began in 2003-04.
Key details:
Bailiffs carried out 44 evictions following repossession orders – also a record high.
These 'no-fault' evictions allow landlords to evict tenants with two months' notice without giving a reason.
The true number of Section 21 notices issued is likely much higher, as these figures only include cases where tenants refused to leave after two months.
Why it matters: The rise in evictions highlights growing housing insecurity in Ipswich. It comes as political parties debate potential reforms to rental laws.
Labour has pledged to ban Section 21 notices with its Renters' Rights Bill.
The Conservative government previously considered a ban but later dropped the proposal from its Renters' (Reform) Bill.
Zooming out: Across England and Wales, 32,789 'no-fault' eviction claims were submitted to courts in 2023-24 - the highest figure since 2015-16. Repossessions jumped nearly 24% last year to 10,802, the highest figure in six years.
What they're saying:
Tom Darling, Renters' Reform Coalition: "Renters cannot afford to wait much longer. We must see legislation brought forward soon to get a grip on the situation and address the renting crisis."
Local Government Association: "The Section 21 ban needs to be brought forward as quickly as possible."
Sir Keir Starmer, Labour leader: "We will introduce tough new protections for renters, end no-fault evictions and raise standards to make sure homes are safe for people to live in."
National Residential Landlords Association: The system replacing Section 21 "needs to be fair, workable and sustainable for both responsible landlords and renters".
The bottom line: As Ipswich faces record 'no-fault' evictions, pressure is mounting on policymakers to address housing security concerns and find a solution that is fair on both responsible landlords and renters.
