- Citizens Advice Claims:
- Citizens Advice charity suggests that private landlords use Section 21 notices to evict tenants who request repairs, describing them as “seemingly retaliatory evictions.”
- The charity claims that landlords issue Section 21 notices knowing that the eviction process is quicker than the legal process for getting repairs done.
- Counterargument by LegalforLandlords :
- Sim Sekhon, Managing Director of LegalforLandlords , disputes the claims, stating that the idea of landlords willingly choosing eviction over repairs is laughable.
- Sekhon argues that landlords, in general, prefer to carry out repairs to keep good tenants happy, protect their investment, and avoid the lengthy eviction process.
- Landlord Perspective:
- Sekhon expresses frustration that fair and responsible landlords are expected to endure challenges while tenants may exploit the system.
- Landlords may face stalling tactics or claims of ‘breathing space’ protection, leading to delays in court processes.
- Court Proceedings and Compensation:
- Sekhon mentions cases where landlords eventually win in court, but there is no compensation for their financial losses or distress suffered during the process.
- Landlords may feel unsupported and disrespected in a sector where they are already facing challenges.
- Use of Section 21:
- Landlords, according to Sekhon, may resort to using Section 21 as a way to exit a sector that they feel does not support or respect them.
- Emphasizes that using Section 21 is the legal right of landlords, and characterizing them with generalised, unbalanced slurs is unfair.
In summary, the response from LegalforLandlords challenges the notion that landlords intentionally use Section 21 notices to retaliate against tenants requesting repairs. The counterargument emphasizes landlords’ preference for carrying out repairs and points out the challenges and frustrations faced by responsible landlords in the current rental landscape.
