HOUSING
Homelessness: Evictions double while the government twiddles its thumbs
In what should surely be adopted as the motto on the parliamentary coat of arms, the government has been accused of not doing enough to address the housing crisis.
New figures show evictions doubled in the last months of 2022. Repossessions surged to 5,409 between October and December compared to 2,729 in the same period in 2021, according to Ministry of Justice statistics. Mortgage repossessions surged too, up 134 per cent.
The government has yet to introduce the Renters Reform Bill it has been promising since 2019, but a spokesperson told The Big Issue it “is investing a significant amount of funding to improve waiting times in the civil courts, opening extra courtrooms and recruiting more judges”.
Matt Downie, Crisis CEO, said the government must raise housing benefit at the Spring Budget to prevent evictions rising even further.
“The devastating impact of the cost-of-living crisis, rising rents and low wages has once again been laid bare as thousands more renters are faced with eviction and the very real threat of being left with nowhere to go,” said Downie.
The bill promises to abolish section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, but MPs on the Levelling Up Housing and Communities committee have warned the new legitimate reasons for eviction in the reforms risk being exploited by rogue landlords and becoming a “back door to no-fault evictions”.
A government spokesperson told The Big Issue the Renters Reform Bill would ensure all tenants have greater security and are empowered to challenge poor conditions.
