Coronavirus: Eviction ban to be extended by four weeks

Ministers have extended the ban on landlords evicting tenants in England and Wales until 20 September, following fears thousands could lose their homes



In most cases, until the end of March, renters will also get six months' notice if their landlord plans to evict them.

Courts had been due to resume cases on Monday after a five-month pause.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said he was "supporting renters over winter" adding that, when the ban was lifted, the most serious cases of anti-social behaviour, other crimes, and unpaid rent for over a year would be heard first.

Tenants in England, Wales and Scotland are now all expected to receive six months' notice of eviction compared with two months before the coronavirus outbreak.

A survey by homelessness charity Shelter suggested that more than 170,000 private tenants have been threatened with eviction by their landlord or letting agent, and 230,000 in England have fallen into arrears since the pandemic started.

Polly Neate, Shelter's chief executive, said: "It is right for the government not to lift the ban when it risks exposing people to eviction and the threat of homelessness with no means of defence.

"The government must use this short window of time wisely to put proper safeguards in place for renters."

Health bodies had warned that homelessness or moves that resulted in people living in overcrowded accommodation could risk higher numbers of Covid-19 infections. Politicians have now called for more than the latest extension to the ban.

Labour's leader, Sir Keir, said "Such a brief extension means there is a real risk that this will simply give renters a few more weeks to pack their bags."

He described the move as an "11th-hour u-turn" and said Prime Minister Boris Johnson had "stuck his head in the sand" for months, adding: "The ban should not be lifted until the government has a credible plan to ensure that no-one loses their home as a result of coronavirus."

Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: "A blanket extension is unacceptable, especially so close to the deadline. This announcement satisfies no-one.

"Landlords have been left powerless in exercising their legal right to deal with significant arrears unrelated to Covid-19, anti-social behaviour and extremely disruptive tenants who make life miserable for their neighbours and housemates.

"Private landlords cannot be expected to foot the bill for government failure."

Protesters march in Coventry calling on Government to toughen 'measly' protections for renters



Protesters gathered outside law courts in Coventry before marching into the city centre to call on the Government to do more to protect tenants against rent evictions.

Around 30 people joined the demonstration today (August 22), which was organised by the local branch of ACORN, a grassroots community union.

A Government freeze on evictions to protect renters during the coronavirus outbreak was extended by four weeks on Friday (August 21) following an outcry from campaigners who warn huge numbers of people faced being kicked out of their homes.

However the campaign group wants more to be done to protect those at risk of being made homeless, including scrapping Section 21 evictions, which allow landlords to remove tenants without giving a reason, as long as certain rules are followed. They also want an amendment to Section 8 notices, where landlords have to give a reason, the most common being rent arrears.

Paul Forey, of ACORN's Coventry branch, said: “We were initially going to protest against the Government not extending the rent ban but they have now extended it for a measly one month.

“They have not solved the underlying problem at all, they have not got rid of Section 21 evictions and they have not amended Section 8 to make sure people can’t get kicked out for arrears during coronavirus. They have just kicked the can a few weeks down the road and at this rate there will be a huge surge of evictions.

"The only difference will be that instead of being in the autumn, it will be in the peak of winter.”

The group, who wore masks and came equipped with hand gels to guard against coronavirus, marched from Coventry Combined Court Centre in Much Park Street into Broadgate Square, where they spoke to passers-by about the campaign.

One-sided much?

A housing association official told me (off-the-record) that 20% of renters simply don't want to pay, leaving honest renters to pick up the tab.

Whilst I have every sympathy with those unable to pay, it's not the landlord's function to provide free lodgings.

If you were disabled elderly a cancer patient etc and 45 and over would you bother paying your rent knowing whats coming under Agenda 21 .