Landlords have repossessed almost 300 properties since 2023 as the government becomes set to revive the rental reforms bill to ban so-called no-fault evictions.

Included in the bill will be the abolishment of section 21 no-fault evictions, under which tenants can be removed from rented housing when a fixed-term tenancy ends.

Other measures in the Renter’s Rights Bill include moves to strengthen tenants’ rights, the right to challenge unfair rent increases, and outlawing discrimination against tenants in receipt of benefits or with children.

Between January 2023 and June 2024, there were 293 repossessions in East Lancashire. Within the last quarter 57 repossessions occurred, 23 more than in the same period in 2023.

Burnley was responsible for more than 25 per cent of these, with a total of 89 landlord repossession orders, and many have been forced to turn to their local council for support.

Social housing provider Calico Homes repossessed eight properties due to anti-social behaviour and homes being no longer occupied between January 2023 and June 2024.

Vicki Webb, managing director for Calico Homes said: “Our goal is to create successful neighbourhoods where people can stay in their homes for as long as possible, and live there happily and safely.

 “If anyone is struggling financially, we will always offer support and in most cases, this prevents any need for legal action.”

Blackburn with Darwen also had 71 tenants have their homes repossessed amidst a six-year national high in repossessions by bailiffs.

In the last quarter, there were a total of 17, more than twice as many as the same period in 2023.

There has been a national surge, though to be due largely to the lifting of the pandemic eviction ban, but activists are suggesting evictions are being commonly used as a form of ‘revenge’ against tenants who complain about housing conditions or rent rises.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “The government is right to pull the plug on no-fault evictions.

“Section 21 has haunted England’s renters for years now and 11 million of them will breathe a sigh of relief when these unjust evictions are finally consigned to the history books.   

 “The Renters’ Rights Bill must be a fresh start to fix private renting.

“With notice periods so short and more than 60,000 renters forced out of their homes by rent hikes in the past year alone, renters will expect bold action to deliver the security they’ve long been promised – no ifs, no buts. 

 “If the government is serious about making renting genuinely safer, secure, and more affordable, the Bill must guarantee renters greater protection.

“Renters need to know they won’t be booted out of their homes by eye-watering rent hikes and the discriminatory practices that push so many into homelessness must be stamped out.” 

The new legislation, which will be debated in autumn, also gives tenants the right to request a pet.

It is understood ministers would seek to enact the ban immediately rather than waiting for the courts to go through a legal process.