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Two briefing papers on the Covid-19 crisis have been published – as London Mayor Sadiq Khan warns of a ‘ticking timebomb’ for renters. 

Commons paper on preventing evictions

The House of Commons Library has published a briefing paper explaining measures the Government has put in place during the coronavirus outbreak to assist households to retain their homes and to enable local authorities to tackle the specific challenges faced by rough sleepers. 

The paper, which quotes extensively from the NRLA’s research and its policy ‘asks’ can be accessed here.

Commons paper on supporting household finances

The House of Commons Library has published a briefing paper outlining the measures introduced by the Government, and other authorities, to support household finances during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. It can be accessed here. 

London Mayor warns of ‘ticking timebomb’ for renters

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has warned that many of London’s private renters are facing imminent homelessness, unless the Government acts now to properly protect them from eviction.

He is criticising the Government for having allowed landlords to continue issuing eviction notices during the pandemic and for having “failed to heed calls to increase financial support, to allow renters affected by COVID-19 to pay their rent in full.”

The press release from the GLA says:

“This combined lack of support for renters and forward planning by the Government is expected to result in a sharp increase in the number of households being made homeless when court proceedings resume on 25 June. 

“In the meantime, some unscrupulous landlords and letting agents are ignoring the ban now and threatening renters with eviction.”

The Mayor is now rolling out training for borough housing and Trading Standards teams in how to deal with unlawful behaviour by rogue operators. 

The Mayor’s team is also working with the Metropolitan Police to help officers better respond to illegal eviction calls.

Police officers will use the Mayor’s ‘Report a Rogue Landlord or Agent’ tool to log any incidents they attend, so that borough teams can follow up with the tenant and start enforcement action against the landlord if appropriate.

The Mayor of London said: 

“Many renters are just one pay cheque away from homelessness. It’s completely unacceptable that London renters should be facing a ticking timebomb where they could lose their home.

“The Government took the required urgent action at the end of March to suspend eviction proceedings for 90 days but has then wasted the window of opportunity this presented to shore up protections for private renters. Suggestions that landlords and their tenants agree ‘affordable repayment plans’ between themselves is totally unfair, and unrealistic in many cases. “

In April the Mayor set out his proposal for a ‘Triple Lock’ protection for renters, which you can read about here.

Evictions update

The Government has also today published updated non-statutory guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities in the private and social rented sectors in the context of Coronavirus (COVID-19). 

The guidance, which can be accessed here includes new technical guidance on eviction notices.