The council has sent eviction notices to 53 families in Reading who were tenants of a council-owned property company.
Homes for Reading was founded by Reading Borough Council in 2016, allowing it to become a private rental landlord.
But in July 2024, the council decided to wind up the company and transfer 101 homes into its housing stock.
To do that, the law requires vacant possession of the homes – meaning existing tenants had to move at the end of their tenancy or be evicted.
The council has used section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 to evict tenants so it can take over the properties.
It has issued 53 eviction notices, of which 33 tenants have moved voluntarily into suitable alternative accommodation.
However, 18 notices have not been complied with, and have therefore been referred to the council’s legal team to commence possession proceedings. Two notices have not expired yet.
This information was revealed at the council’s policy committee meeting on January 26, where councillors clashed over the use of the term ‘no-fault evictions’.
Councillor Rob White (Green, Park), the leader of the opposition on the council said: “At the committee meeting in December, the council leader Liz Terry said that the council, through Homes for Reading, was not using ‘no fault evictions’ to end residents’ tenancies, and to accuse them of doing so was both ‘incorrect and inappropriate’.
“Since then, residents have contacted us to say that that is exactly what is happening, and that the leader’s answer was misleading.
“They believe tenants of Homes for Reading, having been promised by the council that these were their ‘forever homes’, are now being subject to claims for possession.
“These claims are referred to by everyone, including the press, the Labour Party manifesto on which the Leader of the Council campaigned, and the current government, as ‘no-fault’ evictions.
“Is this an apology for your previous answer, and an apology to those tenants who have been evicted by the council, Labour-run?”
Cllr Liz Terry (Labour, Coley), the council leader, maintained that his characterisation of the matter was “incorrect and inappropriate.”
She said: “No, it’s not an apology.
“I and other councillors challenged officers on numerous occasions asking for a way to be found to enable families to stay in the Homes for Reading properties.
“During the decision-making process, the Council considered all options to keep Homes for Reading tenants in their homes following the transfer.
“However, legislation requires that residential properties that the council own must be let as an allocation through the council’s Housing Register.
“Therefore, vacant possession is required to allow an allocation to take place to the applicants in greatest need.
“We’ve gone far and above what was required by law.
“I regret that we came to that position, but I do not regret the decision that we made, because it’s important that we act responsibly and make sure that we do not put all of the services of the council and our existing tenants at risk.
“Individually, of course, I care about all of those who have been affected, and I hope very much that they will find future homes.”
Cllr Terry’s answer included the information about the eviction notices.
