There are multiple reports of mass Section 21 evictions taking place, which prompted the National Residential Landlords Association to quote data showing that possession notices fell in 2025.
Some 130 private tenants in London are being served with Section 21 evictions by corporate landlord Criterial Capital, the BBC reports.
Meanwhile property investment company Dorrington has reportedly issued the notices on tenants living opposite Key Gardens in Richmond, London.
The ‘no fault’ Section 21 eviction route is due to be abolished on 1 May, so it’s likely landlords are taking advantage of the scheme before that date.
However, the NRLA pointed journalists to the core data when reporting on such cases.
Criterial Capital evictions
Siobhain McDonagh, the MP for Mitcham and Morden, brought the case to Prime Minister’s Questions last week.
She said: “Silently and in semi-secrecy London and the South East of England are experiencing the largest mass eviction by a private landlord in decades.
“Criterion Capital have issued at least 130 no-fault evictions across their portfolio including in Britannia Point in my constituency. Those affected have done nothing wrong.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is said to have asked Housing Secretary Steve Reed to investigate the matter.
Criterion Capital denied that the May 1 implementation date was the reason why tenants were being evicted, saying there was “no attempt to accelerate action ahead of legislative reform”.
Dorrington evictions
Dorrington evicted 30 households at Garden Court, opposite Key Gardens, ahead of selling the block to Westminster City Council for £16 million.
The homes are set to be used as temporary accommodation.
Dorrington said residents were informed of their plans in February 2025, and it was helping some residents move.
In response, Richmond Council said it was seeking talks with its Westminster counterpart.
Richmond is led by the Liberal Democrats, and Westminster by Labour.
Conservative Councillor Paul Swaddle told MyLondon News: “There is no justification for throwing people, including elderly and vulnerable residents, out of their homes at two months’ notice.
“Labour in Westminster, Sadiq Khan and the Labour government all campaign loudly against no fault evictions.
“To apparently facilitate exactly this for some of Westminster’s most vulnerable residents is an act of staggering hypocrisy.”
NRLA responds to stories – with data
The National Residential Landlords Association responded to such reports by pointing to data around Section 21 notices.
Government data from 2025 shows that 28,112 possession claims were brought to county courts in England, the lowest it has been since 2022.
In the final quarter of 2025 6,367 claims were brought under the Section 21 route, the lowest number since the final quarter of 2022.
It’s too early to get data on whether there is currently a spike of Section 21s being issued ahead of the implementation date.
