FEWER landlords are applying to court to obtain possession orders to remove tenants who refuse to follow eviction orders in Barnsley, new figures show.

Ministry of Justice figures covering January to March show there were 42 landlord possession claims made to remove tenants in Barnsley - down from 71 in the first three months of 2024.

Of the recent claims, 11 were made by social landlords, 13 by private landlords and 18 were accelerated claims after ‘no-fault’ evictions.

It’s thought the figures are reducing following the Renters’ Rights Bill’s arrival, which gives tenants more protection from being evicted.

At the time of the last census, 19.1 per cent rented from a private landlord in Barnsley South, while 22.3 per cent rented from a social landlord.

In Barnsley North, the figures were 17.3 per cent and 19.6 per cent respectively, while Penistone and Stocksbridge’s were 10.7 per cent and 13.3 per cent.

Stephanie Peacock, MP for Barnsley South, has praised the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Bill.

She said: “Almost one in five households in Barnsley South rents privately.

“I know these people have been let down for far too long with many stuck in disgraceful conditions, powerless to act because of the threat of a retaliatory eviction hanging over them.

“It’s great to see the Renters’ Rights Bill introduced to Parliament, which will strengthen protections such as ending no fault evictions and giving tenants the right to request a pet.”

However, housing charity Shelter said no-fault evictions, which accounted for about 40 per cent of the landlord repossession by court bailiff this recent quarter, should be scrapped by the summer.

Alicia Walker, assistant director of advocacy and activism at Shelter, said: “Rents and living costs are spiralling across England and tenants on the lowest pay are keeping hold of their homes by the skin of their teeth.

“Every day our frontline teams hear from families who’ve been hit with rent increases they just cannot afford - forced to pay up or ship out, with little standing between them and the nightmare of homelessness.”

She added the Renters’ Rights Bill is the ‘last chance’ to guarantee security for renters.

“If the government wants the bill to be truly transformative, it must cap rent increases in line with inflation or wage growth to make renting genuinely safe, secure, and more affordable.”

Figures also show there was a 31 per cent increase in mortgage possession claims, with 27 in the recent quarter in Barnsley.

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: “We have inherited a serious housing crisis which is why our ‘Plan For Change’ will deliver seismic reforms alongside our mission to build 1.5 million new homes.

“Our Renters’ Rights Bill will deliver a long overdue transformation of private renting by strengthening tenants’ rights and security and banning Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions.

“While mortgage arrears are reducing and homeowner repossession levels are well below those seen in previous decades, we understand the concerns of mortgage holders and there are significant safeguards in place to support those who are struggling.”