Halt no-fault evictions over Christmas

Harpenden & Berkhamsted Liberal Democrats are calling for an emergency ban on no-fault evictions over the Christmas period, as figures show 84 families in Dacorum, which includes Tring and Berkhamsted, and St Albans District, which includes Harpenden, Redbourn, Sandridge and Wheathampstead were put at risk of homelessness due to a Section 21 notice in the year 2022/2023.

Government data from 2022/2023 shows that 84 households were placed at risk of homelessness in Dacorum and St Albans District Council area as a result of a Section 21 notice which are used by landlords for no fault evictions. That equates to one in every five of those threatened with homelessness over that year.

Harpenden & Berkhamsted Lib Dems are calling on the government to enact an emergency ban on these Section 21 evictions over the festive period to prevent more families being made homeless through no fault of their own over the Christmas period. 

Victoria Collins, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Harpenden & Berkhamsted, said:

“Some families in Harpenden and surrounding villages are facing a nightmare before Christmas. With the cost of living crisis putting intolerable pressure on family finances, a shocking number of households could find themselves on the streets over the festive period through no fault of their own.

“Instead of taking urgent steps to prevent homelessness before it happens, this heartless government has kicked the ban on no fault evictions into the long grass and introduced measures to criminalise rough sleeping.

“We need to see an emergency ban on no fault evictions over the festive period and a compassionate approach to rough sleeping to make sure no family in Harpenden & Berkhamsted is left out in the cold this Christmas.”