Mar

Britain urged to join global trend and ban evictions until pandemic is over

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Cities in Spain and the US have already banned evictions and pressure group Generation Rent says the UK should follow suit, despite scant evidence that Coronavirus-linked evictions are taking place.

Generation
Rent is urging the Government to follow cities around the world which have
halted evictions for tenants affected by Coronavirus.

The pressure group wants to see a temporary end to all
Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions and Section 8 evictions for rent arrears, as
well as the removal of the five-week wait for Housing Benefit, and to ensure this
covers rent costs.

It is also calling for a one-year rent increase freeze to
prevent landlords from raising rents to unaffordable levels.

Although some
landlords may view these demands as extreme and even foolhardy, Generation Rent
may get its way.

When Chancellor
Rishi Sunak announced a three-month mortgage holiday for struggling homeowners
yesterday, he also told the House of Commons: “The Housing Secretary will, in
the coming days, make a statement with further measures to protect renters
through these difficult times.”

Generation believes renters are particularly vulnerable
to the effects of Coronavirus as two- thirds have no savings and typically
spend 40% of their income on rent.

Renters who lose income can claim Universal Credit, which
includes housing benefit, but the five-week wait leaves them vulnerable to rent
arrears and eviction, says the group.

Tenants are being advised to contact their landlord for a rent holiday, but there’s no obligation for them to offer one.

Areas of
Spain and cities across the USA have now halted evictions for the duration of
the pandemic, with France making funds available to postpone rent payments
altogether.

Caitlin
Wilkinson, policy manager at Generation Rent, says renters shouldn’t have to
choose between staying healthy and keeping a roof over their head.

“Without further
protection, millions of renters will be unable to pay their rent and will be
reliant on the goodwill of their landlord,” she says. “We know that many
landlords will take action to evict tenants, leaving them homeless in the midst
of a pandemic.”

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