Calls to renew eviction ban to prevent thousands of Greater Manchester families becoming homeless
Current rules introduced by Government will be lifted from 22nd February.
Greater Manchester Leaders are calling on the Government to extend he ban on evictions until at least the summer as the wider impacts of the coronavirus crisis continue.
In less than two weeks’ time current rules introduced by Government will be lifted, meaning bailiffs will be able to begin forcing people from their homes from 22nd February.
No evictions are expected to take place until 8th March at the earliest - apart from the most serious cases.
Tenants must also be given a minimum of six months’ notice before they will have to vacate their rented property. But eviction processes are again moving through the courts, adding to the pressures on struggling tenants.
Now, residents from Greater Manchester living in rented accommodation have described the uncertainty and unhappiness while living in such uncertain circumstances.
48-year-old Nigel rents a bungalow in Rochdale and is currently struggling to pay rent after his work as a chef disappeared for the duration of the pandemic.
He says being in rent arrears has caused a huge amount of stress, having never been in this situation before and is concerned his landlord could potentially evict him when there are no protections in place.
He said: “There is nothing I can do until the end of the pandemic. It has put me under severe stress - the amount of stress I am under is unbelievable.
“It has taken its toll on my mental health, I am trying to do what it takes to survive. I’ve not got confirmation of a 12-month tenancy agreement. I have lived here for eight years, it’s only the last year where it has gone wrong and I don’t want to keep living like this.”
There are an estimated 16,800 households in the city-region estimated to be in arrears due to the pandemic. The first eviction ban, introduced at the start of lockdown, was in place for six months and housing experts have said another longer ban would help to reduce difficulties for renters. Leaders are also asking Government to provide direct financial support to protect tenants and landlords to prevent the build-up of rent arrears due to Covid-19 impacts, as proposed by Shelter, the NRLA, Crisis and others.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “The Covid-19 outbreak has proved extremely difficult for many in our city-region and we understand people may be in a worrying financial situation which they may never have experienced before. In Greater Manchester we do not just ignore people when they fall on tough times; we pull together and offer support to those who need it.
“We already have more than 4,000 households in temporary accommodation and are also supporting 1,000 people through our A Bed Every Night scheme. The homelessness system in our city-region cannot take much more, a sudden surge in evictions will create a huge amount of pressure and I urge Government to reimpose the eviction ban to protect people who are in these circumstances through no fault of their own.”
Tenants and private landlords affected by the latest lockdown across Greater Manchester are being reminded there is easy-to-follow guidance on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority website.
Both parties are being encouraged to work together to find solutions to eviction issues and to access the advice available.
Landlords are also reminded that illegal eviction is a criminal offence, and they must follow the correct legal process - this is in place to protect both parties.
Tenants and landlords are being asked to explore the options available before an eviction process is initiated, whether that is agreeing a rent holiday, working on a revised rent repayment plan or supporting tenants in applying for financial aid such as Universal Credit. It is hoped that through this honest dialogue, solutions are found to avoid anybody being put at the risk of losing their home. According to a recent survey by the NRLA, 90% of their members have offered financial assistance in some way when asked by tenants affected by coronavirus.