Member

Amendment 27 refers to pre-eviction evidence. Ground 1 is deemed to be vulnerable to being used in much the same way as Section 21, unless there is a high evidential threshold. Without this, any of the issues connected to Section 21 will persist. For example, landlords should not be able to use ground 1 as a pretence to evict a tenant who has complained about the need for repairs in the knowledge that they are unlikely to face sanctions for having lied: “Of course I am going to move somebody in; of course I will do whatever”. If landlords still feel they are able to undertake retaliatory evictions, any ambition to provide security of tenure for these private renters will have failed. However, if the landlord or the family member is required to provide a statement of truth to the court, as in this amendment, this will act as a significant disincentive to lying to the court as it would expose the landlord or family member to litigation.