Landlords might no longer be able to kick renters out of their properties without good reason, thanks to a Government decision.

Following months of campaigning across the country, including in Waltham Forest and Redbridge, the Government has started the ball rolling to scrap Section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act.

The clause allows landlords to evict tenants from their property without providing a reason once their contract ends and only requires them to give renters two months’ notice before they need to leave.

This is currently perfectly legal, even if the tenants have done nothing wrong and have paid all their rent on time.

Those backing the campaign for the end of Section 21, including the London Renters’ Union, believe this to be unfair, particularly as the average private rental contract is between just six months to a year, leaving renters vulnerable.

Both Waltham Forest and Redbridge Councils passed motions in their full council meetings addressed to the government calling for the controversial clause to be removed from law.

Now, the authorities’ and campaigners’ hard work has started to pay off.

Currently, half of all 18 to 35 year olds, one in four families with children and growing numbers of older people live in private rented accommodation.

According to both councils’ figures, the termination of private sector tenancies has become the biggest single drive of statutory homelessness in Waltham Forest and Redbridge, as indeed in London and the rest of the UK.

Council representatives also expect the number of evictions from private rented accommodation in Waltham Forest to go up in the next few years as the number of private rented homes is increasing across the borough.

Responding to the government’s announcement, Amina Gichinga from London Renters Union said: “Section 21 is a pernicious piece of legislation that renters across the country will be glad to see the back of.

“The law allows landlords to evict their tenants at a moment’s notice leaving misery and homelessness in its wake. This fear of eviction discourages renters from complaining about disrepair and poor conditions.

“We’ve been demanding an end to this law and it’s great to see our pressure pay off. Our campaign faced resistance from the landlord lobby, which has been urging the government to keep Section 21. The fact that the government has now ended up scrapping a 30-year old law tells us that renters are a force to be reckoned with.”

Cllr Farah Hussain, cabinet member for housing and homelessness at Redbridge Council, said: “‘Nobody in Redbridge should have to live in fear of losing their home with as little as eight weeks’ notice. This council has called on ministers to end Section 21 evictions – which are the single biggest cause of homelessness in the borough- and give families the stability they deserve.

“While we still need to see the detail, today’s announcement appears to be a welcome step in the right direction.”

The Government is set to consult on the plans to scrap the clause and must get the decision approved by Parliament before it can be fully dropped.