More people in Southend lost their homes due to “no-fault” evictions after refusing to follow a Section 21 order last year, new figures show.

Across England and Wales, the number of repossessions reached the highest level in six years.

Labour aims to ban Section 21 notices, which allow landlords to evict tenants with two months’ notice without a reason, with its Renters’ Rights Bill. The Bill will take up the baton from the Conservatives’ Renters’ (Reform) Bill, which had initially included a ban on so-called “no-fault” evictions before being rescinded.

But the latest figures from the Ministry of Justice show county court bailiffs made 57 repossessions due to a Section 21 notice being issued in Southend in the year to June – up from 46 the year before.

These evictions follow a court repossession order being issued after a tenant has refused to leave the property despite being served a Section 21 notice.

Overall, landlords in the area applied for a further 166 ‘accelerated possession orders’ after Section 21 notices were ignored. Some 32,789 of these “no-fault” eviction claims were submitted to courts across the country in 2023-24, the highest figure since 2015-16.

Meanwhile, repossessions jumped nearly 24 per cent last year to 10,802, the highest figure in six years. The true number of Section 21 notices issued is likely much higher, as these figures only include those in which the tenant has not left the property after two months.

Daniel Cowan, Labour leader of Southend Council, said: “So-called no fault evictions are open to abuse and cause immense instability for many people.

“Labour’s Renters’ Rights Bill will remove the threat of arbitrary evictions and increase tenant security and stability for people in Southend as well as creating clear and expanded repossession grounds for landlords to reclaim properties when needed. This reform is long-overdue.”

Tom Darling, director of the Renters’ Reform Coalition, said although the Government has pledged to end ‘no-fault’ evictions, “renters cannot afford to wait much longer”

He added: “We must see legislation brought forward soon.”