Social Housing

Private renters in England on ‘cliff edge’ as eviction ban ends.

Ministers have been warned that in case of “eviction ban” being lifted nearly two million private renters are at the rink of losing their homes distressfully as they would  fail  to find an alternate  property in such a situation.

The government has been receiving requests for an emergency legislation to intensify the permanent protection for struggling people who fail to pay their rent due to covid pandemic. Councils have also warned that an increase in homelessness may escalate far above unless precautions are brought into practice as the ban is coming to an end this week.

With the end of ban those private renters will be facing risk who have been repeatedly extended while their rent arrears were building up during the crisis. A high percentage of private renters in England who are already squeezing on food and utilities to pay rent are worried that they might not find another home in future.

Private renters are those most at risk at the end of the ban, which has been repeatedly extended amid concerns about the build-up of rent arrears during the crisis. Among private renters in England who are worried about losing their home and who are already cutting back on heating and food to pay rent, 72% are worried they will be unable to find another home in the future. The finding, from a study by homelessness charity Shelter, equates to about 1.9 million privately renting adults.

It has been learnt that many tenants have been living far away with family support and have survived in poor conditions and overcrowding. A large fraction of tenants has thrived on substandard food and minimal heading compared to rest of sufferers.

It also found that, among the group, 47% had made unacceptable compromises to fund their rent, such as living far away from family support or accepting poor conditions and overcrowding. Of all private renters in England, 20% have had to cut back on food or heating, compared with 8% of homeowners.

Polly Neate, Shelter’s chief executive uncovered a “Shattered” private rented sector. “The end of the evictions ban has further terrified fearful renters “The next few months are petrifying for the hundreds of thousands of renters who are under debt and already touching the bottom limit in everything, including food, rent, and utilities. They know they are hanging on to their homes by a thread. The it eminent for the government to halt the surge of evictions to avoid confronting a huge homelessness crisis.”

Polly Neate, Shelter’s chief executive, said Covid had exposed a “broken” private rented sector. “The end of the evictions ban is a day many terrified renters are dreading,” she said. “The next few months present a scary time for the hundreds of thousands of renters who are in debt and already cutting back on just about everything, including food, to pay their rent. They know they are hanging on to their homes by a thread. The clock is now ticking for the government to stem the tide of evictions or face an even bigger homelessness crisis.”

Last year, council figures reflected almost half a million residents at high risk of becoming homeless as an outcome of the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis. During the pandemic, 37,000 rough sleepers and homeless people were facilitated into accommodations. The Local Government Association (LGA), charities and Labour are uniting to call on ministers to fulfil a manifesto commitment to end “no-fault evictions”, which allow landlords to evict tenants without giving a reason.

The LGA also wished a permanent increase in universal credit and housing benefit, an instantaneous review of the benefit cap’s impact during the pandemic and more funds to help councils deal with homelessness. David Renard, the Tory leader of Swindon council and the LGA’s housing spokesperson, backed: “The government ban on evictions, and the eviction enforcement, in effect since the beginning of the pandemic. It gave vital reassurance to families who were at risk of losing their homes. We also understand that the ban cannot last indefinitely. However, lifting the ban will leave some households at verge of becoming homeless. Therefore, it is essential we ensure there is a safety net of support in place.”

Lucy Powell, the shadow housing secretary, said that in case the escalation in homelessness lasts for one year the taxpayers are at the risk of bearing with 2.2 bn and because of the ban being lifted. She is also demanding emergency legislation for safeguarding the renters in terms of protection. “The government is insubordinately walking into an evictions crisis,” she said. “The housing secretary determined that no one would lose their home as a result of the crisis, and he endeavour to make good on that initiate.”

A government spokesperson said that we have been extraordinary in helping people since the beginning of the pandemic especially by introducing a comprehensive support package of £352 billion, which have been phenomenal in controlling build-up of rent arrears.

“Thanks to the success of the vaccine programme, national restrictions are gradually being eased and it’s now the right time to start to lift the emergency measures we put in place.

There will be a continuous support to tenants in the form of longer notice periods and financial help as a furlough scheme with prolonged extension until the end.

of September. Evictions will not be carried out if a member of the home has Covid-19 symptoms or is self-isolating.”

Faisal Saeed. 6 June 2021