Brent Council is paying a landlord to house the tenant he was trying to evict after failing to come up with any alternative accommodation.

The authority paid the legal fees and took over responsibility for paying the rent as long as the landlord continued to house the tenant in the property.

LegalforLandlords made the Section 21 application in February and possession was granted in April. Two months’ later, the letting agent which had started proceedings on behalf of its landlord client was told that, providing he was willing to halt proceedings, the council would step in to cover his costs.

LegalforLandlords MD Sim Sekhon believes that with many small landlords leaving the sector – fearing changes in the Renters Reform Bill – Brent Council’s actions might make them pause for thought.

It could be a rare, isolated case of a council unable to prevent a homelessness case but might also be a practical solution that could work for both private landlords and tenants, he says.

No alternative

“It’s worth remembering that the private landlord in this situation agreed to the deal, but it could be that he or she had no real alternative.

“They were already out of pocket and facing a wait of many months for a bailiff. Suddenly there’s an offer made that seems to bring immediate relief and recompense. Is that a real choice?”

With a shortage of social housing, landlords could find themselves effectively forced to provide the housing that councils can’t, adds Sekhon who asks: “Will the combination of a clogged court system and the bailiff backlog drive force private landlords to retain unsuitable tenants?”

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