Campaigners Call for Greater Legal Protection for Tenants

A coalition of charities, councils, and church leaders have warned that the extended ban on evictions won’t be enough to prevent an increase in homelessness.

The group have called for emergency measures to safeguard renters. The ban was extended last week until 20 September for renters in England and Wales. However, there are signs that those hit worst by the COVID-19 pandemic are finding themselves even further behind on rent.

Data from the District Council’s Network show that almost half a million households are paying over half of their monthly income on rent, including 100,000 young people aged 16-24.

Bishop of Manchester, David Walker, said that the extended ban “does not provide the long-term plan our nation needs, if we are to prevent homelessness rocketing once the rules change back, and avoid piling further pressure on low-paid workers to flout the coronavirus regulations.

“If we fail to seize this opportunity...not only will great personal suffering be caused to Britain’s most vulnerable households, we will also face a far more expensive task: rehousing people in temporary locations; and rehabilitating those whose health and wellbeing have been unnecessarily compromised through rough sleeping.”

Polly Neate, chief executive of homeless charity Shelter, said: “The government must not waste this precious time that it has bought itself.

“Once parliament resumes, judges must be given extra powers to stop renters losing their homes because of rent arrears caused by coronavirus. And longer term, we desperately need major reforms to make renting fairer, affordable and more secure.”

Leader of South Lakeland district council in Cumbria, GIles Archibald, said that a long-term plan needed to be put in place urgently.

“Nearly half a million households who spend over half their income on private rent are at most risk of eviction as a result of the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic,” Archibald said.

“For now those families can rest assured they won’t lose their homes. In the meantime, government needs to work with councils to develop a plan to support tenants and landlords for once it is lifted.”

Landlords claim that they are footing the bill ‘for government failure’ having been left powerless due to the ban.

Robert Jenrick, the housing secretary, said that the government had already put measures in place to protect renters. This includes a notice period of six months before the evictions process can start. Jenrick also said that ‘the most egregious’ cases would be prioritised by the courts once the ban comes to an end.