A bag of sand: celebrating the end of no-fault evictions

Looking back at the events around my section 21 ‘no fault’ eviction, I can see how a random event led to the actions of my landlord of ten years.

I had become aware that the wall of my front yard had caved-in – probably the result of a car backing into it. Reluctantly, this was something I had to pass onto my landlord.

It took ages for anyone to come and fix the wall, but when they did, they didn’t finish it. Instead, they left some tools and a bag of sand in my neighbour’s driveway.

My neighbour complained to me, so again, I had to pass this onto my landlord. I also informed him that the wall hadn’t been finished.

This was approaching the time when my contract for the next rental period would be signed. As I waited for that email from my letting agent about my contract, I had a horrible feeling. I’d been hearing about no-fault evictions, and evictions using section 21 from disgruntled landlords not wanting to do repairs.

Section 21

I tried to push this out of my mind, but the email I usually got about my contract was late. Then, one day, I got an alert on my phone. My landlord of ten years now wanted me out in two months, under section 21.

Initially, I felt sick. I knew just how few properties were accessible and available for people under the age of 55. But it wasn’t just that. As someone with severe physical disabilities, I knew packing up a two-bedroom home would be impossible for me, and in that initial period, I had little support available.

As I panicked about the situation, I couldn’t eat. My weight plummeted. As bones started to protrude, they also got sore. As I have a lack of sensation below my waist, one sore positioned right at the bottom of my back (initially unseen and untreated) began to fester.

I spent every day for two months trying to find an accessible home, both through the council and privately, but everything that was accessible was sectioned-off for the elderly. My health became even more precarious with my mental health deteriorating just as much as my physical health. With nowhere to move to, I had to beg my landlord for another month.

It was only the kindness of my friends on social media, supporting me emotionally and practically, that got me through this time. This included one friend who, with her husband, helped me pack up my home. Another, a landlord, provided an accessible flat for me. This kindness was overwhelming and literally lifesaving.

Renters’ Rights Act 2026

Knowing that this flagship Labour policy will now be law will make such a difference, particularly for those with disabilities.

The Renters’ Rights Act should increase communication between tenants and landlords and help root out those unscrupulous landlords who just see their tenants as money in the bank. It doesn’t prevent evictions, but landlords will need a justified reason, such as anti-social behaviour or a tenant not paying rent.

There are other rights and responsibilities in this Act, and all renters and landlords should carefully look at what is going to change. The Shelter website is a good place to start.

The result of grassroots campaigning

This legislation – the result of a massive grassroots campaign – is something that should be celebrated, as it gives certainty and clarity for both renters and landlords. As Section 21 evictions are/were the leading cause of homelessness, it should also help lessen the load and cost on councils, in terms of having to provide temporary accommodation.

The Renters Reform Coalition (RRC) – an alliance of 16 leading housing and renters’ organisations – has campaigned for this legislation since its inception in 2020. The RRC Director said:

This Act will fundamentally rebalance the relationship between tenant and landlord, empowering England’s 11 million private renters to stand up for their rights without fear.

Sarah Elliott, chief executive of Shelter, posted back in October 2025:

The Renters Right act is the victory of a lifetime for renters who have fought for years for better protections. We are grateful to the government for making these landmark changes.

All for a bag of sand

As mentioned earlier, the weight-loss I suffered due to the stress of the eviction resulted in a very deep ‘grade four’ pressure sore on my lower back. When I moved, the district nurses swooped-in to deal with it. But even with their care and dedication, it took over three years for it to finally close.

It’s hard to fathom how a bag of sand, led to a section 21 eviction, and resulted in so much physical damage. But that’s what happened. I’m not alone, thousands of lives have been overturned with these ‘no fault’ evictions. Such horror stories will finally become a thing of the past and that’s worth celebrating.

By Ruth Hunt

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