17th
Dec 2021
The
District Councils Network (DCN) latest survey has found 70 per cent of councils that took part in its poll have seen a ‘glut’ of tenants needing temporary accommodation, and the same percentage also stated that the number of families needing housing benefits are on a sharp rise.
71 of English landlords operating in England who took part in the survey between June and October also commented there was a sharp increase in food banks becoming available.
86 per cent also said that worryingly increasing cases of having to help support tenants ‘escaping’ from domestic abuse needed to be addressed urgently.
More concerning reports from the survey shows that 76 per cent of landlords reported there is an increase in landlords pulling out of the market and impacting council housing waiting lists due to:
1) Rent increased levels have topped the highest for 13 years which includes a 6 per cent rise from last year. Many local council authorities reported rents rises a third higher than their areas’ median salaries.
2) Many landlords are deciding to move back into their own houses.
3) Some landlords are turning their attentions to offering ‘staycations’ because of the Covid restrictions abroad which will be far more profitable for them.
Around 48 per cent of councils stated their housing departments are experiencing “significant pressure” on services and they had also seen a significant increase in people requesting hardship support.
The DCN claims that many claimants will not be able to receive “sufficient in the longer term” as it is likely the government will put a freeze on Local Housing Allowances over the next year.
A DCN spokesperson, Sam Chapman-Allen, Chair of the District Councils Network and leader of Breckland Council, said the findings show there is "a perfect storm of problems creating a crisis in the private rented sector across the country".
Chapman-Allen said: “Now the Government’s Eviction Ban has ended, this is a problem that could get worse, with councils also seeing increase in the numbers of tenants needing housing support due to increased evictions due to rent arrears.
“During the pandemic, district councils and the government worked together to help protect those who are most vulnerable through the Everyone In initiative, the temporary banning of no-fault evictions, and other measures such as furlough and the Universal Credit uplift.
“We need to urgently tackle this issue by permanently lifting housing benefit for tenants in private rented housing and for increase in Government support to invest in a renaissance of council house building to create homes, jobs and growth.”
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