‘Everyone was in tears’: the tenants given eviction notices just before ban in England

I t was 2pm on 30 April when Carl Kansinde Middleton received a “no fault” eviction from his landlord in Brighton – just 10 hours before section 21 notices were officially banned under the Renters’ Right Act. “As we were getting closer, I really thought I was safe ,” he said. “It just never occurred to me that it would just come right on the last day – I truly felt blindsided. “I lost my job in November and it’s been a struggle for me financially as I have no support system. I was just about treading water but this has swept me under. I haven’t found a place yet. Honestly I don’t know what I’m going to do.” Middleton, 27, is one of hundreds of people across England who received a no-fault eviction in the weeks, days and even hours before the practice was banned under legislation designed to protect the rights of tenants. Solicitors reported being inundated with requests to serve last-minute eviction notices before 1 May, and having to get them hand-delivered to tenants when there was not enough time to post them. Middleton said his notice came via email, text message and post, making it impossible to miss. He said he had always had a good relationship with his landlord, and paid the first year of his rent upfront when he moved into the studio flat two and half years ago. …