Covid-19: Evictions ban in England extended until May

The government has extended the ban on evictions enforced by bailiffs in England until May.

But ministers indicated this could be the final such extension, promising a "new approach" from June.

The ban been extended several times during the pandemic, and the current one was due to expire at the end of March.

Labour says hundreds of people have already been evicted due to loopholes in the protections.

The government also extended the ban on commercial evictions until 30 June, which it says will help firms as they re-open after lockdown.

Evictions were banned in England at the start of the first lockdown in March 2020 and the devolved governments in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have also taken action.

The government said the move was part of an "unprecedented package of support" for businesses and renters during the pandemic to help "reduce pressure on public services".

As England prepares to move out of lockdown, ministers say they will "consider the best approach to move away from emergency protections from the beginning of June, taking into account public health advice and the wider roadmap".

This has led to warnings from campaigners that the support does not go far enough.

Latest research by Shelter shows that almost have a million private renters in England have fallen behind with their rent or been served with some type of eviction notice.

The charity says it has been inundated with calls from people struggling to pay their bills.

Chief executive, Polly Neate, said renters face an uncertain future.

"These extensions will come as a relief to the frightened renters who've been flooding our helpline with calls. While the threat level from the virus is still high, it's right that renters can stay safe in their homes," she said.

"But as we follow the roadmap out of lockdown, the destination for renters remains unknown. The pandemic has repeatedly exposed just how broken private renting is, leaving many people hanging onto their homes by a thread."

She called on ministers to learn the lessons from the pandemic and create a system "fit for purpose".

The Local Government Association welcomed the move saying it would avoid causing major disruption for households in "very challenging times" and would help reduce pressure on council homelessness services.

But it said "there remains a need for a renewed focus on investing in homelessness prevention services".

The LGA added that it was "vital councils are given the ability to invest in building much-needed social housing, through the reform of Right to Buy".

Under the evictions ban, eviction notices can only be served in "the most serious circumstances" which the department for housing communities and local government said could include fraud or domestic abuse.

The chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, Ben Beadle, said he welcomed the extension but he urged the government to do more to tackle the rent debt crisis.

"We welcome clarification that emergency measures in the rental market will be phased out in tandem with the overall roadmap out of lockdown restrictions" he said.

"That said, the further extension to the repossessions ban will do nothing to help those landlords and tenants financially hit due to the pandemic.

"Given the cross-sector consensus for the need to address the rent debt crisis, it suggests the Government are unwilling to listen to the voices of those most affected" he added.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said it was right that businesses and renters continue to be supported as England moves out of lockdown.

"We have taken unprecedented action to support both commercial and residential tenants throughout the pandemic - with a £280 billion economic package to keep businesses running and people in jobs and able to meet their outgoings, such as rent" he added.

But Labour says the current ban on evictions is not working.

The party's shadow secretary of state for housing and homelessness, Thangam Debbonaire, said: "Loopholes mean that hundreds have already been evicted during lockdown. This is just the tip of the iceberg, as tens of thousands have been made homeless during the pandemic.

"The government should strengthen the ban on evictions, and protect family finances by dealing with rent arrears and lost income, to keep their promise that nobody will lose their home because of Coronavirus."