The long-awaited ban on so-called no-fault evictions will not be brought in until a new court process and stronger possession grounds for landlords are in place, the Government has confirmed.

Charities and campaigning organisations within the private rental sector have been calling for the abolition of section 21 evictions, saying renters have already had to wait far too long for reform.

Last month, Housing Secretary Michael Gove told Conservative MPs that the ban will not be enacted before a series of improvements are made in the legal system.

On Tuesday, the Government insisted it is keeping its manifesto pledge to abolish this part of the current legislation – where a landlord can evict a tenant without providing any reason.

But it confirmed this would not come into effect until landlords’ grounds for possession are strengthened, giving examples of wanting to sell the property, tenants’ repeated serious rent arrears and expanding grounds for when close family members want to move in to the property.

The Government said landlords will be able to evict tenants in as little as two weeks if they breach their tenancy agreement or damage the property.

Some Conservative MPs have previously voiced their opposition to the Renters Reform Bill, saying it would add to “the burden” on landlords.

In his address to Parliament, the King said: “Renters will benefit from stronger security of tenure and better value, while landlords will benefit from reforms to provide certainty that they can regain their properties when needed.”

Alongside the Bill, the Government said it is working to speed up the court process around repossession of properties, and said both landlords and tenants will be engaged in the process to ensure the system is as straightforward and efficient as possible.

The Government said stronger powers to evict anti-social tenants will be introduced under the Bill, as it pledged to broaden the criteria for what are considered disruptive and harmful activities.

It said the Bill will see the delay between a landlord serving notice for eviction due to anti-social behaviour and being able to make a claim in court halved.

It promised to bring forward amendments to the Bill including protections for the student market, and making it illegal to have blanket bans on tenants who are on benefits or have children.

The Government said the latter will protect against discrimination, while leaving landlords with the final say on who they rent to.

The Bill is part of the plan to support 11 million private tenants and 2.3 million landlords in England, the Government said.