Date Published 20 February 2026
More than a week has now passed since a petition calling for a reversal of the proposed Section 21 ban surpassed 10,000 signatures — the threshold at which the Government is expected to issue a formal written response. At the time of writing, no response has been published. The petition was launched earlier this month by landlord Craig Littlejohn and quickly gathered support from across the private rented sector. Under the parliamentary petitions process, reaching 10,000 signatures should trigger an official Government reply. However, despite the milestone being reached over a week ago, landlords are still awaiting clarification.
Landlord Today has contacted the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ask when a response will be issued.
What the Petition Calls For
The petition, titled 'Require faster eviction process, and improve protections for landlords in PRS', focuses on the practical implications of abolishing Section 21 under the Renters' Rights Act.
It calls on the Government to:
• Introduce a six-week fast-track court process for mandatory possession grounds under Section 8 and 7A (including rent arrears and anti-social behaviour);
• Create a registered landlord database of court-evicted tenants to help identify repeat offenders;
• Increase the deposit cap to provide greater protection against significant property damage.
The petition argues that, with the removal of Section 21, landlords will be entirely reliant on Section 8 grounds for possession. Citing Ministry of Justice data showing that the average eviction currently takes more than 27 weeks, the petition states that prolonged delays leave compliant landlords exposed to substantial financial losses through unrecoverable arrears and property damage.
Supporters contend that without meaningful court reform and stronger safeguards, the balance of risk within the private rented sector will shift further against responsible landlords — potentially impacting supply.
What Happens Next?
If the petition reaches 100,000 signatures, the Government will be required to consider the issue for debate in Parliament. In the meantime, many landlords will be watching closely for the overdue formal response — and for any indication of whether court reform will meaningfully accompany the proposed abolition of Section 21. Landlords can view the petition via the official Parliament website.
At Adams Estates, we are monitoring developments around the Renters' Rights Act and Section 21 reform closely. We will continue to keep our landlord clients informed of any significant updates, including the Government's response to this petition and any changes that may affect possession procedures or landlord protections within the private rented sector.
