Member

Amendments 54, 55, 56, 57 and 58 propose to expand possession ground 5C. Taken together, they would allow landlords of tenant workers, contractors and the self-employed to seek possession of a tenant’s home in the circumstances described within the ground that are currently available only in respect of employees. While we recognise that employee accommodation plays a critical role for many employers and have strengthened the possession ground by making it mandatory, we do not believe that it would be right to include other forms of work arrangements. This could leave the ground open to abuse by potentially enabling back-door Section 21-style evictions. Other types of arrangements may be available for those circumstances, such as licences to occupy. The circumstances where a landlord provides accommodation for tenants on, for example, short-term contracts are likely to be limited.