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10:09 AM, 1st March 2024, About 2 months ago 83
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Council leaders from across the political spectrum have asked the housing secretary, Michael Gove, to support an amendment to the Renters (Reform) Bill that would give tenants more time to find a new home if they are evicted.
Sky News says it has obtained a letter, signed by 103 local authority leaders, including the leader of Rishi Sunak’s constituency council in North Yorkshire, that urges Mr Gove to increase eviction notice periods from two months to four.
The letter, which was co-ordinated by the campaign group Renters Reform Coalition, says that this change would ‘give tenants more security and time to find a new home which suits their needs in the event they are evicted’ and would ‘reduce the number of people claiming homelessness support following the end of a private tenancy’.
The Renters (Reform) Bill, which is currently going through Parliament will ban Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions which allow landlords to reclaim properties without giving a reason.
The campaign manager at the Renters’ Reform Coalition, Tom Darling, told Sky News the Bill ‘has many positive aspects – but it is still insufficient to address the scale of the crisis in the private rented sector’.
He said: “The two months being proposed, like the status quo, will leave renters frantically scrambling to find a suitable new home in time, with many ending up presenting as homeless to their local council when this search comes up empty.
“Not only will increasing notice periods provide more security for England’s 11 million private renters and alleviate some of the suffering in our housing system, it will also provide some much needed respite to local authorities buckling under the growing cost of temporary accommodation.”
However, under the Bill, landlords would only be able to evict tenants in England for specific reasons, such as selling their house or having a relative move in.
The Bill would keep a two-month notice period for these cases, which the Renters Reform Coalition argues is not enough for many people to secure alternative accommodation.
The coalition says that the end of private tenancies is the main cause of homelessness, with recent data showing that more than a quarter of eligible claims for homelessness support were made because a private tenancy had ended.
The letter states: “As you will know, Section 21 evictions are a leading cause of statutory homelessness – many renters are unable to find new accommodation in the two months available after being served an S21 eviction and end up being housed in temporary accommodation.”
The number of households living in temporary accommodation has doubled since 2012, reaching record highs, including the highest number of homeless children – more than 138,000 – since records began.
Last year, councils in England warned that spending on temporary accommodation was threatening to ‘overwhelm’ their budgets.
Analysis from the Local Government Association (LGA) last year showed that ‘at least’ £1.74bn was spent supporting 104,000 households in the year ending in March – the highest amount since records began in 1998.
And this week, London Councils warned that several London boroughs are facing bankruptcy trying to meet homelessness bills.
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No
2:46 AM, 1st March 2024, About 2 months ago
Sick of all this government interference. Too much red tape & extra expenses for landlords. I have been a landlord for around 30 years & have put up with changes like direct payment to tenants under labour which was a disaster then universal credit under the Conservative government which has been a disaster. Then one regulation after another costing thousands. I may aswell sell up & not have the stress, so that looks like the best way now. I feel sorry for my tenants that I have had for many years however it's the government changes to blame.
Cider Drinker
8:15 AM, 1st March 2024, About 2 months ago
Longer eviction processes will definitely not prevent homelessness. It will simply mean greater stress for landlords and more months of missed rent payments. It will mean that potentially better tenants face a longer time waiting for a home.
When a family is evicted, a property becomes available for another family.
If they want to fix the housing crisis may I suggest some basic mathematics. Reduce demand for homes and/or increase the supply of homes. Neither option is addressed by imposing more financial losses on private landlords.
Barbaracus
9:36 AM, 1st March 2024, About 2 months ago
Literally ALL this does is kick the can down the road.
If you can't find a place to rent with 2 months notice then you're either priced out the market (thanks to govt legislation and Local Authority licensing driving landlords out of the market) or there are no places to rent.
Adding an extra 2 months is not going to change ANYTHING.
Idiots.
Like Tom Darlings Quote
"He said: “The two months being proposed, like the status quo, will leave renters frantically scrambling to find a suitable new home in time, with many ending up presenting as homeless to their local council when this search comes up empty.
“Not only will increasing notice periods provide more security for England’s 11 million private renters and alleviate some of the suffering in our housing system, it will also provide some much needed respite to local authorities buckling under the growing cost of temporary accommodation.”
Explain:
How will it alleviate some of the suffering in our housing system.
How will it provide respite to local authorities
How will it stop renters presenting as homeless to their local authority when they can't find somewhere to rent
HOW?
GlanACC
10:25 AM, 1st March 2024, About 2 months ago
Longer .. I would have thought if the tenant wasn't paying the rent it should be shorter
Happy housing
10:26 AM, 1st March 2024, About 2 months ago
Yes I'm planning to sell up, tenant s not paying rent, trashing the property 4 months them 6 months court cade appt eviction that's like 1 1/2 are they serious. Do they know how difficult it is for a LL to chase up money after they left.
Reluctant Landlord
10:28 AM, 1st March 2024, About 2 months ago
".... it will also provide some much needed respite to local authorities buckling under the growing cost of temporary accommodation.”
Since when did the private sector and private landlords become directly responsible for a lack of council housing?????
How is this my problem and why do I have to put up with non paying tenants or ones that trash my property just because no one else wants to house them?
GlanACC
10:30 AM, 1st March 2024, About 2 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Happy housing at 01/03/2024 - 10:26
I have only one got the full amount owed me after a court case. Don't blame you for selling up. I will do so when my (good paying) tenants leave (6 left to go)
kevin smith
10:33 AM, 1st March 2024, About 2 months ago
Reply to the comment left by No at 01/03/2024 - 02:46
Longer eviction notice who was the bright spark that thought that one up what about the Landlords that are struggling with none payment of rent etc and the hardship on them as they will just sell up and its even harder on tenants use your brains please.
Landlord 123
10:37 AM, 1st March 2024, About 2 months ago
What's the point the notice period of 2 months does not apply as the council tell the tenants that they will not rehouse them if they move out and landlords have to go to court! which invetably means it takes at least 6 months why don t they come clean!
Happy housing
10:38 AM, 1st March 2024, About 2 months ago
They don't like small LLs, soon big companies will pull out, this is turning into a headache.