FOI request (FOIR-686361458)

Section 21 eviction policy

Requested Mon 10 February 2025
Responded Mon 03 March 2025

I am requesting the following information regarding the council's handling of Section 21 evictions under the Freedom of Information Act 2000:

1. Copies of any training materials or internal guidance given to staff regarding tenants facing a Section 21 eviction (no-fault eviction).

2. Any documents, emails, or communications instructing housing officers to advise tenants to remain in their property after they have been served a section 21 eviction, until formal eviction by bailiffs.

3. Any policies on whether leaving after a section 21 eviction but before formal eviction by bailiffs makes tenants ineligible for rehousing by the council.

4. The longest period a tenant served a section 21 eviction has been waiting for rehousing by the council.

Response

Q1 to Q3.

There is no blanket policy. For all applications regard must be given to the Homelessness Code of Guidance.

Each application is different and the circumstances and steps in trying to prevent homelessness will differ.

Chapter 6 Homelessness Code of Guidance. In particular 6.17-6.19, 6.29-6.38.

Q4.

Prevention duty - secured existing or alternative accommodation - longest: 1618 days.

Relief duty - secured alternative accommodation - longest: 712 days.

Final duty - Accepted a Housing Act 1996 Pt6 social housing offer - longest: 2065 days.

Placed in Temporary accommodation - longest 1231 days.