Michael Gove’s grace-and-favour home in St James was handed a four-metre-high eviction notice by protesting renters today.
Members of the London Renters Union gathered in central London on the fifth anniversary of the Government’s promise to abolish section 21.
A ban on no-fault evictions was originally part of the Renters Reform Bill, but as Secretary for State for Housing Gove has thus far failed to get the ban through parliament.
Almost 300 Londoners are served with a no-fault eviction notice every week, according to City Hall, with landlords able to force tenants to leave with two months notice for any reason through a section 21 notice.
One Carlton Gardens in St James is traditionally offered to the Foreign Secretary, but former prime minister Boris Johnson granted Gove use of the grace-and-favour property during his tenureship.
“While Michael Gove has spent years living rent-free in a £25 million luxury property, renters across the country are being forced into homelessness by no-fault evictions and eye-watering rent hikes,” said a spokesperson for the London Renters Union.
“In the five years since his party promised to abolish this cruel legislation, tens of thousands have been made homeless and millions have lived in fear of eviction,” they added.
“Michael Gove has shown more interest in protecting the profits of his mates in the landlord lobby than ensuring everyone in this country has a secure place to call home. It’s time to kick the landlord lobby out from decisions around our basic rights.”
Gove has re-pledged to end section 21 by the next general election, but the Government has stalled the ban until the court system is reformed to ensure fair process for landlords.
“There are a small minority of unscrupulous landlords who use the threat of eviction either to jack up rents or to silence people who are complaining about the quality of their homes,” Gove told the BBC in February.
“We will have outlawed it [by the election] and we will put the money into the courts in order to ensure that they can enforce it.”
Rents in London have risen to record highs in the past year, while the number of no-fault evictions in the capital rose by 38 per cent.
Writing for Homes & Property, Precious Adesina recounted how she was evicted from her home in Wood Green after her rent was raised from £950 to £1,100 a month.
“I asked them why they were upping my rent a few months after the first increase and by quite a significant amount despite our initial discussion, especially after no repairs had been done,” said
“After claiming that rent increases are normal, sending me a few emojis, which included a thumbs up, smiley faces and the prayer sign, and calling me “mate,” they blocked me.
“The next time I left my home, a dreaded Section 21 notice, was placed in front of my door.”
