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Government backtracks on pledge to ban evictions
This article is an external press release originally published on the Landlord News website, which has now been migrated to the Just Landlords blog.
In response to the crisis caused by the coronavirus, the Government announced that it would introduce a ‘complete ban on evictions and additional protections for renters‘ who have been affected. However, the released Coronavirus Bill only states that the notice period will be increased from two months to three.
Commenting, Caitlin Wilkinson, Policy Manager at Generation Rent, said: “This legislation fails to deliver on these promises in every respect. All these measures do is extend the notice period for evictions to three months, which will provide little comfort to those faced with losing their homes in the midst of a pandemic.
“Equally worrying is the lack of provision made for rent arrears, which will stack up in the three month period. Many renters will end up with thousands of pounds worth of debt and no means of paying it off.
“Landlords and tenants are expected to ‘work together’ to find a solution to suit both parties from June onwards – but there’s absolutely nothing to stop landlords from evicting tenants if they can’t pay. Eviction is the leading cause of homelessness, so the Government must act now to avoid another crisis in three months’ time.”
