22nd
Feb 2021
The government has recently announced that they have extended the ban on bailiff enforced evictions bans that was due to end yesterday on Sunday 21st February.
The evictions’ ban is now extended a further six weeks until March 31st.
A spokesperson for a leading trade organisation commented: “[This] does nothing to help over 800,000 private renters who have built rent arrears since lockdown measures started last year.
“It means debts will continue to mount to the point where they have no hope of paying them off. It will lead eventually to them having to leave their home and face serious damage to their credit scores.
“The government needs to get a grip and do something about the debt crisis renters and landlords are now facing. A package of hardship loans and grants is needed as a matter of urgency. To expect landlords and tenants simply to muddle through without further support is a strategy that has passed its sell by date.”
Secretary Robert Jenrick stated that the extension will make sure that tenants will still be protected "during this difficult time". He added that the evictions’ ban will only allow bailiffs to carry out the action “in all but the most serious cases".
He firmly believes that the government has already taken unparalleled measures to help tenants throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, and that its actions achieves "the right balance between protecting tenants and enabling landlords to exercise their right to justice".
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, says: “Thousands of renters who’ve been living in fear of the bailiffs’ knock at the door, have today been given a few more weeks in their home. This short extension to the bailiff ban may keep people safe for now, but it’s not an answer to the evictions’ crisis.
“Renters are still are being served with eviction notices every day, and our helpline is flooded with calls from those desperately worried about paying their rent.”
Baroness Kennedy, who was appointed as the new Director of Generation Rent last year, is now stating that many cases heard since the government’s ban on evictions was first announced have not been egregious.
A recent statement from Generation Rent issued said: “Ministry of Justice figures published on Thursday reveal that between October and December 2020, there were 3,542 claims for possession under section 8 of the Housing Act 1988, which requires the landlord to provide valid grounds for eviction. This was 48 per cent higher than the 2,392 Section 21 claims, which do not require a reason.
“Tenants who have been affected by Coronavirus can apply to delay the eviction, but they cannot have a Section 21 claim thrown out.
“In the same quarter, courts in England granted 406 possession orders under Section 8 but 1,289 orders under Section 21 – three times as many. A total of 346 households were physically evicted, 189 under Section 8 and 157 under Section 21.
Enforcement of possession orders is currently paused for all but the most severe cases until 21 February, but tenants being evicted on no-fault grounds could face homelessness as soon as March.”
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