23rd
Nov 2023
The Crisis charity is once again calling for the government to get on with its promise to abolish S21 eviction powers to ease the homelessness catastrophe.
The charity cites Ministry of Justice figures showing that 8,747 people in England and Wales were served with a Section 21 eviction notice during July to September this year which is 32 per cent higher in the corresponding months last year.
Crisis also highlights figures from the MoJ that show a 13 per cent rise in S21 eviction notices over the three months, as well as a 31 per cent rise in actual bailiff Section 21 evictions being carried out.
The charity claims that over the last twelve months across England and Wales overall number of served eviction notices drastically increased. London alone had a 35 per cent increase with 8,014 eviction notices that were served compared to the same time last year.
Crisis is once again carping on about that although it welcomes the government’s decision to abolish Section 21 through the Renters Reform Bill, it could take years before this is carried out because of the much needed changes of the eviction court processes.
Matt Downie, Crisis chief executive, says: “Yet again, we see evidence of the insurmountable pressures placed on renters because of soaring rents and the cost of living crisis.
“With each eviction notice served comes the stress of finding somewhere else to live. In many cases, there are simply no affordable homes available.
“While the Westminster Government reaffirmed its commitment to scrap no fault evictions in the King’s Speech earlier this week, we are seriously concerned that these won’t be abolished fully until reforms to the court system take place, which may take years.
“Tenants must not be punished because the courts aren’t functioning properly. The Government must give struggling renters the protections they need to ensure more and more people aren’t pushed into homelessness.
“Ahead of the Autumn Statement, we urgently need the Westminster Government to invest in housing benefit so that people across Great Britain can afford even the cheapest of rents. On top of this, it’s vital they set out a plan to deliver the social homes we so desperately need.”
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