26th
Apr 2020
Renters’ unions and campaigners are demanding the government that tenant’s rents must be suspended throughout the Covid-19 crisis, after recent research found that many tenants are choosing between putting food on the table or paying their rent.
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The Guardian contracted Opinium to carry out a poll on their behalf which found that a high number of tenants are suffering financially. One in six renters are having to find ways to access additional funds, whether its loans, cards or overdrafts to keep their heads above water.
According to Kat Wright the national organiser for Acorn, a campaign group for tenants’ rights, she believes that sooner or later tenants and landlords will head into a collision.
Wright said: “We’re facing a huge surge in evictions once restrictions are lifted, and renters across the UK are already unable to pay their rent.
“Tenants need protection from evictions post-emergency and from rent debt accrued during the crisis.”
The Guardian reports that some renters are already facing eviction threats from their landlords.
The newspaper was told by an unnamed self-employed tenant, that when he asked his landlord for a rent deferment he was answered by being served with an eviction notice.
Amina Gichinga of the London’s Renters Union said some tenants who are losing income are having to take on any type of work to keep paying their, and says it is extremely unfair.
Gichinga said: “Many renters feel they have no choice but to break social distancing guidelines and go out to work, just so their landlords can continue to profit.
“How are people supposed to pay rent with no income and at least a month’s wait for any government assistance? How are people in low-paid jobs meant to clear hundreds or thousands of pounds of rent arrears in the future?”
Gichinga continued: “All rent payments need to be suspended and rent arrears need to be waived urgently to keep renters safe from eviction and from debt, and to prevent the further spread of the virus.”
Richard Merrick of PIMS, said: “The government will be paying 80% of wages for furloughed staff, those tenants on Universal Credit are also being given a one year thousand pound increase on their benefits up till April 2021.
“There will undoubtedly be renters who will have their lost their jobs, as in some cases businesses will use the crisis as a ‘reason’ to ‘prune’ their staff, however Universal Credit is being fast tracked and there are hardship payments available as well.
“So the government is doing its best to keep peoples’ heads above water, and yes there is always more that could be done however there will be a huge price to pay for many years to come.
“This campaign smacks of a too good an ‘opportunity’ not to be missed by certain factions, there are no demands for free travel, clothes, food, gas, electricity, or phone charges etc. There will be many landlords who will sit down and talk to their tenants about reducing the rent and agreeing upon a repayment plan which may be the most sensible way forward in these times.”
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