Post-Pandemic Eviction Fears For Renters

Almost 65,000 households in the UK could be facing eviction and homelessness when the government’s eviction ban is lifted next month, according to a renters’ union.

Many private tenants have been unable to pay rent and fallen into arrears at the hands of “unsympathetic” landlords during the coronavirus pandemic, reports Huffington Post. For some, the fear of eviction has impacted their mental health.

In March, the government announced the suspension of evictions for three months to protect private renters. During that period, landlords have not been able to start eviction proceedings and all previous possession cases have been put on hold. After June 29, however, courts will be able to begin hearing both new and existing cases again. The Tenants Union says this will put tens of thousands of households at risk of eviction and homelessness. Charity Shelter has called for judges to be given extra powers to keep people in their homes.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MCHLG) has said it will keep its protection for renters “under review”, but says landlords and tenants are “expected to work together to establish an affordable repayment plan” after June 29, with government guidance urging landlords to “show compassion”. However, a survey of more than 1,500 people carried out by campaign group Generation Rent found that the proportion of landlords who refused to offer any flexibility to struggling tenants outnumbered those who granted rent reductions that did not need to be repaid eight-to-one. In the same study, more than half of renters said they had lost income since the lockdown started.

Ben Clay from the Tenants Union said the issue was “a question of fairness”. While homeowners were offered a three-month mortgage holiday – which last week was extended for a further three months – renters were told to rely on the kindness of their landlords for a sense of security. “The eviction cliff edge is a huge issue for tenants right now,” he told HuffPost UK. “Generally the poorest in society are tenants because none of them can afford to buy a house, and yet they’re expected to pay more money back.”

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said the charity had heard from renters who were “struggling more than ever as jobs are lost and incomes fall because of the crisis. She said: “If the government lifts the eviction ban without putting in protections for renters, it will unleash a wave of homelessness that will see councils drown and families needlessly suffer. That’s why it’s critical judges are given extra powers to keep people in their homes.”

An MHCLG spokesperson said: “The government has taken unprecedented action to support renters during the pandemic to ensure no one can be forced from their home – and we will keep these measure under review. We continue to urge the need for landlords to work together at this time and to raise issues at the earliest opportunity to address any concerns to agree a workable way forward.”