Thousands of tenants who have struggled to pay rent during the coronavirus pandemic face the prospect of losing their home when the government’s temporary ban on evictions ends next month, according to Generation Rent.
The government’s moratorium on evictions, which runs out on 23 August, is designed to protect tenants that could be facing financial hardship brought on by being furloughed or losing their job altogether.
Some tenants who have been unable to pay after losing work during the lockdown period are understood to be worried about meeting housing costs as the country eases back to normality step by step.
Generation Rent is warning that homelessness could treble this year unless the government acts to help private renters.
According to Generation Rent rates of rent arrears have increased from 4% before the pandemic to 13%, which could make 45,000 households homeless.
Responding to the warning Jon Sparkes, Crisis chief executive, commented: “It’s deeply concerning that renters are at risk of losing their homes because of the huge and sudden pressure coronavirus has exerted onto their lives.
“Right now, many people are facing agonising stress and anxiety because they cannot pay their rent as, through no fault of their own, their job has been lost or their hours have been cut. This is made all the worse when we know that many thousands of renters are at risk of homelessness once the suspension on evictions comes to an end next month.
“It’s vital that we now focus our attention on ensuring that everyone has a safe and affordable home during this outbreak and beyond. That’s why we need the government to immediately bring forward emergency homelessness legislation to suspend the benefit cap and put in place emergency legal protections so that no one is unfairly evicted because of the pandemic.”
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What about those tenants who have left the property, kept the keys, left food in the fridge and freezer with no electricity on the key causing the deterioration of the property and a health hazard? Given a good rent reference then never paid rent for two months to save up for new home and walked away with what they needed and left the rest in situ. How can that be fair on the landlord not being able to get a Possession Order to enter.
I have tenants who have temporarily vacated for long holidays until recalled to work.
They are still paying the rent though.
As long as they advise of the long absence and continue to pay rent I don't mind.
This my occupants have done.
They know at least every 30 days I will inspect the property to make sure everything is OK.
Water has been turned off as a precautionary measure.
But I'm afraid a LL must enter when rent NOT being paid to preserve the fabric of a property.
Just post a notice 48 hrs before you attend to inspect.
This counts as an emergency which technically you don't need to give notice for.
I agree with Paul I would enter as an emergency inspection, further more if they have not returned the keys and their food is still in the fridge they are still due to pay the rent, money claim online for the rent due will earn them a CCJ which will screw up their mortgage application nicely, never let a rouge tenant walk all over you on princible if nothing else.
Well said Jo...
What about the homelessness being caused by LL like me who refuse to let currently vacant property for at least another year when hopefully all the eviction cases has been concluded.
I can easily afford the low mortgage cost.
But I couldn't afford a rent defaulting tenant.
Everyone is lying when stating that a homelessness crisis will occur at the end of the eviction ban.
NO there won't be.
It will take at least 1 year for an eviction to occur.
So that is October next year minimum.
Why is everybody lying when all LL know eviction takes about 10 months in normal times.
It seems the propaganda being spewed out fails to recognise the realities of the eviction process.
I have NEVER known anyone comply with a S21.
They all wait til eviction date by which time they have vacated the day before.
I have never used a HCEO though I would now if the stupid DJ would allow the transfer process which is rarely allowed.
Why are there so many lies about the eviction process!?
Crisis don't offer a source for their claims. Where is the evidence? Just words from an organisation designed to support renters but by their actions they are actually reducing the amount of properties in the country by encouraging LL to exit the market. How can that support renters?
The bottom line is, if u are a good tenant, you have nothing to worry about. If you are a bad tenant "SEE YOU IN COURT, BUDDY"
Simple solution to the problem ... if government are concerned about the plight of renters not being able to afford market rents then they should give housing benefit to furloughed workers if needed, set housing allowance to cover rent and automatically allow direct payments. Problem solved!
What about the tenants with 4-5 months in arrears before the virus and have continued to not pay rent since March and use pandemic as an excuse ?? They should be first to go they making life hell for landlords
Sensible comments based on reality.
Any one with any sense keeps some savings to cover loss of income or at least they have outgoings they can immediately stop. I am not counting rent there!
The welfare state has killed off reality. A hundred years ago people would have known that they would have been evicted at the end of the week, not month. I don't think that always happened but it could.
I am quite old and when I was young old people/family talked to me of such things so that is direct knowledge from first world war times.
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