Recommendation 5

Before section 21 can be repealed, landlords must have confidence in their ability to regain possession under section 8, especially in the case of rent arrears and antisocial behaviour. The biggest obstacle to this is the capacity of the courts. We continue to maintain that the best way to improve the housing court system is to establish a specialist housing court, and we do not think the Government has given a satisfactory reason for rejecting this proposal. We are concerned that the Government does not fully appreciate the extent to which an unreformed courts system could undermine its tenancy reforms.