Thousands more renters evicted as charities urge government not to 'look the other way'

Charities are calling on the government not to “look the other way” as new statistics show rising eviction rates for renters across the country.

According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Justice covering October to December 2022, landlord possessions rose by 98% from the previous year, going from 2,729 in 2021 to 5,409.

And 6,101 landlords in England started so-called “no-fault eviction” court proceedings – telling tenants to leave without a reason – in the same period, up 69% in a year.

Charities are now demanding action from the government to avoid “the crushing reality of homelessness”.

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Thousands face threat of ‘nowhere to go’

Chief executive of homelessness charity Crisis, Matt Downie, said: “The devastating impact of the cost-of-living crisis, rising rents and low wages has once again been laid bare as thousands more renters are faced with eviction and the very real threat of being left with nowhere to go.

“With rents rising at their fastest rate in 16 years, the government cannot continue to look the other way as more and more people are forced into homelessness.”

Crisis is calling for investment into housing benefit, which has been frozen since April 2020, so it “adequately reflects today’s cost pressures”.

Mr Downie added: “Failure to do so will see thousands of households facing the uncertainty of eviction and the crushing reality of homelessness.”

‘Renters face impossible decisions’

Campaign group Generation Rent also appealed to the government, calling for it to freeze rents and suspend no-fault evictions, saying they were at their highest rate since 2017.

Director Alicia Kennedy said: “Renters have faced impossible decisions over paying for food, heating or rent, and now face homelessness.

“Rising rents on new tenancies are encouraging unscrupulous landlords to raise rent for their existing tenants and serve no-fault evictions if they can’t afford the increase.”

Shelter went further, urging the government to push ahead with a permanent ban on no-fault evictions, which were blocked during the pandemic but allowed again from May 2021.

Chief executive of the homelessness charity, Polly Neate, said: “Every eviction notice that lands on someone’s doormat brings with it fear and uncertainty.

“No one wants to be forced out of their home, but these court figures show that’s happening to more and more private renters in this country.”

She also attacked a “chronic lack of social homes” leading to the demand for rented accommodation to soar.

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“Every day we hear from desperate families who’ve been served with no-fault eviction notices for daring to complain about poor conditions, or because their landlord wants to cash in on rising rents,” added Ms Neate.

“No-fault evictions are pushing too many people needlessly into homelessness and turning thousands of people’s lives upside down.

“Renters can’t wait any longer… it’s time the government stopped stalling and changed the law.”

Political row over rising mortgage costs

The MoJ statistics also showed a 134% jump in mortgage repossessions for the same three-month period – from 313 in 2021 to 733 – while claims beginning legal proceedings by lenders rose 23% from 2,570 to 3,160.

The Liberal Democrats blamed the figures on former prime minister Liz Truss’ disastrous mini-budget, which saw the markets spiral and mortgage rates rocket after her chancellor announced a string of uncosted tax cuts in September 2022.

The party’s Treasury spokeswoman, Sarah Olney, said it was “shocking” the ex-PM had refused to apologise when she made her return to the political fray last week for what the MP called “economic vandalism which has crippled people with mortgage misery”.

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And she reiterated the Lib Dem call for emergency mortgage protection to stop people from losing their homes.

Ms Olney added: “People’s homes are on the line and still the government refuses to act. Botched budgets and a complete failure to control inflation has led to this point. Ministers must act now before any more families face the heartbreak of losing their homes.”

A government spokesperson said the statistics showed overall mortgage and landlord possession claims were below pre-pandemic levels but added that they “recognise that both renters and homeowners are struggling with the cost of living”.

The spokesperson added: “Ensuring a fair deal for renters remains a priority for the government. We will deliver our commitment to abolish section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions as soon as we can in this parliament – protecting 1.3 million families – and have provided £366m for local councils to help prevent evictions and provide temporary accommodation.

“We are also taking action to support people with rising costs – our Energy Price Guarantee will save the typical household around £900 this winter, with a further £500 saving before April 2024, and we are providing payments of £1,200 to millions of the most vulnerable families.”

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