Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what plans he has to reform Ground 8 of the 1988 Housing Act; and if he will make a statement.

The Government is committed to delivering a better deal for renters and abolishing section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, alongside strengthening the section 8 grounds for possession so that landlords can get their property back when they have a valid reason to do so. Our 2019 consultation ‘A New Deal for Renting’ sought views on how the new grounds, including ground 8, should operate following the abolition of section 21. This received almost 20,000 responses, which we are carefully considering as we develop our response.

We are also undertaking extensive engagement with stakeholders to inform our plans, ahead of publishing a White Paper this Spring. The White Paper will set out proposals to create a fairer private rented sector and we will bring forward legislation in due course and when parliamentary time allows.