The government has announced yet another ban on bailiff-enforced evictions in the private rental sector.
The existing ban was due to expire on February 21 but now this has been put back some six weeks until March 31.
Responding to the announcement of an extension, Ben Beadle - chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association - says: “[This] does nothing to help over 800,000 private renters who have built rent arrears since lockdown measures started last year.
“It means debts will continue to mount to the point where they have no hope of paying them off. It will lead eventually to them having to leave their home and face serious damage to their credit scores.
“The government needs to get a grip and do something about the debt crisis renters and landlords are now facing. A package of hardship loans and grants is needed as a matter of urgency. To expect landlords and tenants simply to muddle through without further support is a strategy that has passed its sell by date.”
Secretary Robert Jenrick says the move will ensure renters remain protected "during this difficult time". He adds that the ban on the enforcement of evictions by bailiffs would continue "in all but the most serious cases".
He states the government has already taken unprecedented action to support renters during the Covid pandemic, and that measures strike "the right balance between protecting tenants and enabling landlords to exercise their right to justice".
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, says: “Thousands of renters who’ve been living in fear of the bailiffs’ knock at the door, have today been given a few more weeks in their home. This short extension to the bailiff ban may keep people safe for now, but it’s not an answer to the evictions crisis.
“Renters are still are being served with eviction notices every day, and our helpline is flooded with calls from those desperately worried about paying their rent."
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Polly Bleat wins again.
Another year, another Valentine's gift from the Government.... once again showing just how much they love and care for the private rental sector and understand it so well knowing just what it needs and most desires, i.e. yet another kick in the teeth!
They must truly love us!
I wonder how many tenants RJ has who don't pay their rent? Pray let us know.
And HMG wonders why its constant bashing of the PRS might discourage private landlords to enter the market! I despair.
It was a Valentine’s Day card to tenants and a card to landlords that read:
Roses are red
Violets are blue
We don’t give
A toss about you.
They are going to have to give a toss soon with 800,000 tenants in arrears, 1.3m on the social housing waiting list, over 30,000 people with very serious mortgage arrears, all of which are steadily increasing. Chuck into the mix furlough ending and likely tax hikes. Got a horrible feeling they have no plan though and are going to wing it after the local elections are out of the way.
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