The UK Government has claimed that the former Section 21 eviction process contributed to thousands of people becoming homeless, as it continues to introduce reforms aimed at reshaping housing policy and improving support for vulnerable people.
The comments were made alongside the repeal of the Vagrancy Act, bringing an end to legislation that had been in place for almost 200 years. The move marks a significant change in how rough sleeping and homelessness will be addressed across England.
For many years, the Vagrancy Act allowed rough sleeping and begging to be treated as criminal offences. The Government argues that this approach failed to deal with the underlying causes of homelessness and instead created additional barriers for people trying to rebuild their lives.
According to ministers, the old legislation often left vulnerable individuals facing fines or criminal records, making it even more difficult to access employment, housing and support services.
The repeal forms part of a wider strategy that shifts the focus away from punishment and towards prevention, early intervention and long-term housing solutions.
Alongside these changes, the Government has pointed to the recently introduced Renters’ Rights Act as another key measure in its efforts to reduce homelessness.
Ministers argue that ending Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions will help provide renters with greater security and reduce the number of households losing their homes without having committed any wrongdoing.
The Government believes that abolishing Section 21 addresses one of the factors that has previously contributed to homelessness among private renters.
These reforms sit within the wider National Plan to End Homelessness, which aims to strengthen support services while reducing the number of people entering homelessness in the first place.
As part of the programme, the Government has allocated £159 million to supported housing projects across England. The funding is expected to help more than 2,500 people move into stable accommodation while also preventing others from becoming homeless.
The strategy also includes new objectives for public services. One target is to significantly reduce the number of people becoming homeless immediately after leaving prison, while another aims to ensure that eligible patients are not discharged from hospital without suitable accommodation.
In addition, ministers have set a longer-term ambition that no individual should leave a public institution and become homeless as a result.
Homelessness Minister Alison McGovern described the repeal of the Vagrancy Act as an important milestone, saying it reflects a more modern understanding of homelessness and the need to focus on support rather than punishment.
She said the Government wants to create a system that helps people find stable housing, rebuild their lives and avoid homelessness before it occurs, rather than responding only after a crisis has developed.
While the Government believes measures such as ending Section 21 evictions and repealing the Vagrancy Act will improve housing security and reduce homelessness over time, the long-term impact of these reforms will continue to be closely watched by landlords, tenants and housing organisations across the UK.
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