Reading Borough Council has issued eviction notices to 53 families who rented homes through its company Homes for Reading.
Homes for Reading was set up by the council in 2016 to act as a private rental landlord. In July 2024 the council decided to wind the company up and transfer 101 homes into its own housing stock. The law requires vacant possession for that transfer, so existing tenants must move at the end of their tenancy or be evicted.
The council has used section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 to gain possession. Of the 53 notices issued, 33 tenants have moved voluntarily into suitable alternative accommodation. Eighteen notices have not been complied with and have been referred to the council’s legal team to commence possession proceedings; two notices have not yet expired.
This was revealed at the council’s policy committee meeting on 26 January, where councillors clashed over whether these are so-called ‘no-fault evictions’.
Councillor Rob White (Green, Park), the leader of the opposition on the council, said:
“At the committee meeting in December, the council leader Liz Terry said that the council, through Homes for Reading, was not using ‘no fault evictions’ to end residents’ tenancies, and to accuse them of doing so was both ‘incorrect and inappropriate’. “Since then, residents have contacted us to say that that is exactly what is happening, and that the leader’s answer was misleading. “They believe tenants of Homes for Reading, having been promised by the council that these were their ‘forever homes’, are now being subject to claims for possession. “These claims are referred to by everyone, including the press, the Labour Party manifesto on which the Leader of the Council campaigned, and the current government, as ‘no-fault’ evictions. “Is this an apology for your previous answer, and an apology to those tenants who have been evicted by the council, Labour-run?”
Councillor Liz Terry (Labour, Coley), the council leader, rejected that characterisation and responded:
“No, it’s not an apology. “I and other councillors challenged officers on numerous occasions asking for a way to be found to enable families to stay in the Homes for Reading properties. “During the decision-making process, the Council considered all options to keep Homes for Reading tenants in their homes following the transfer. “However, legislation requires that residential properties that the council own must be let as an allocation through the council’s Housing Register. “Therefore, vacant possession is required to allow an allocation to take place to the applicants in greatest need. “We’ve gone far and above what was required by law. “I regret that we came to that position, but I do not regret the decision that we made, because it’s important that we act responsibly and make sure that we do not put all of the services of the council and our existing tenants at risk. “Individually, of course, I care about all of those who have been affected, and I hope very much that they will find future homes.”
The council leader’s answer at the meeting included the details about the eviction notices.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
