Tenants facing homelessness as eviction ban ends must get legal aid support warn solicitors leaders

News the UK government will end its eviction ban today (31 May) and taper down emergency measures from June has raised fears that with the re-emergence of possession orders, a greater risk of homelessness will come.

Law Society of England and Wales president I. Stephanie Boyce said:

“The Covid-19 pandemic has been a testing time for landlords and tenants alike. As we mark the end of the eviction ban, we urge the UK government to be cautious of next steps and to act in the best interest of the public.”

For people already struggling with rent before the pandemic hit, arrears got worse for 40% of this group (according to figures from Citizen’s Advice).

In November to December 2020, 9% of private renters – 350,000 households – were currently in arrears, up from 3% in 2019 to 2020 (according to the Government’s Household Resilience Study).

I. Stephanie Boyce added:

“Legal advice must be available to all tenants facing eviction from their homes, no matter the circumstances surrounding the eviction, particularly when homelessness is a likely outcome. The earlier the advice can be received the better.

“While all efforts should be made to keep tenants and landlords talking and to ensure court litigation is undertaken as a last resort, caution should continue to be exercised around replacing legal advice with mediation.

“While the cases of Covid-19 have significantly reduced, the economic impacts of the pandemic continue. A balancing of tenant and landlord rights, therefore, needs to continue to be undertaken.”

Kindly shared by The Law Society of England and Wales

Main photo courtesy of Pixabay