Amongst the many proposals made in the Levelling Up White Paper published this week is a mention of the long-awaited abolition of 'no-fault' evictions via s21 notices and assured shorthold tenancies. It does however refer only to its abolition in the private rented sector. Not therefore we presume in the social housing sector as originally proposed three years ago.  

More detail is awaited in a private rented sector 'landmark' white paper due in spring 2022. It now seems clear legislation is unlikely to prevent social landlords from using assured shorthold tenancies as starter tenancies and for temporary accommodation in their social housing stock. 

Social landlords with stock held by non-RP subsidiaries and larger charity landlords who are not registered providers will however still be affected. The changes will no doubt require an overhaul of tenancy agreements and a review of all enforcement procedures. 

A reminder of the original proposals and government consultation details (proposing revised and new grounds for possession (e.g. a new no-fault ground for when a landlord wants to sell its property) and notice periods) can be found in my now rather elderly ebriefing from July 2019 here. It remains to be seen in the promised white paper if the details will change.