BREAKING: DOJ’s own figures show evictions ‘tsunami’ has failed to materialise during Covid

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Warnings by many tenant charities that there would be a surge of evictions following the partial lifting of the repossessions ban in September last year have proved to be unfounded, government figures released today show.

Ministry of Justice figures reveal that during the final three months of last year the number of claims made by private landlords in England and Wales to repossess properties fell by 37 per cent compared to the same period in 2019.

This is despite the courts beginning to hear possession cases again following a six month stay on proceedings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The number of possession claims made under the accelerated procedure, used by both private and social landlords, also fell by just under 43 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.

Overall, across the whole of 2020, the number of claims by private landlords to repossess properties fell by 48 per cent, with the number of claims made under the accelerated procedure fell by just over 52 per cent.

Rent debt crisis

Despite these positive figures, the NRLA says the scale of the rent debt crisis now engulfing the sector means that without further government support, landlords cannot continue that support indefinitely.

Its research shows that over 800,000 renters in England and Wales have built arrears since lockdown measures started in March last year.

The NRLA is calling for a package of hardship loans and grants for affected tenants to pay off arrears built since March last year, ensuring tenancies are sustained and preventing many renters facing the consequences of damaged credit scores.

“Today’s figures show that despite fears to the contrary, landlords have prioritised sustaining tenancies and supporting renters during the pandemic,” says Ben Beadle, its chief executive.

“That said, landlords cannot continue indefinitely going without receiving rent.”

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