Government extends bailiff eviction ban and gives extra rough sleeper support

News08.01.211.20 PM by Jack Simpson

A ban preventing bailiffs from enforcing evictions of renters in England has been extended for the next six weeks in response to the new national lockdown.

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick confirmed the ban will be extended until at least 21 February (picture: Peter Searle)

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The government has announced that it is extending the bailiff eviction ban by six weeks #UKhousing

Councils to get extra £10m to house rough sleepers and get them registered with GPs #UKhousing

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick confirmed today that the ban on bailiff evictions would be extended until at least the 21 February, a week after the first point in which the government will review and potentially change national lockdown guidance. The ban was initially expected to end on Monday.

It came as the government announced it would also be giving extra support to councils so that they could find accommodation for rough sleepers throughout the lockdown period. The government will give an additional £10m to councils to “redouble their efforts” to find accommodation for rough sleepers and ensure they are registered with a GP.

The decision to extend the eviction ban comes after a number of housing charities called for the government to provide extra support to tenants that may face financial hardship during the latest lockdown. Earlier this week, Shelter, Crisis and Generation Rent called for an extension to the ban following the announcement of a new lockdown on Monday.

Under the ban, bailiffs will be blocked from enforcing possessions during the period. Unlike the eviction ban put in place between March and September last year, eviction court hearings and orders can still take place but landlords will be required to give six-month notice periods and the courts will prioritise egregious cases, such as anti-social behaviour, illegal occupation or for perpetrators of domestic abuse.

The housing secretary also said the government would bring in a mediation pilot that will support landlords and renters who face court procedures. It will be as part of the possession process to try and help landlords and tenants come to a mutual agreement to keep people in their homes.

The government hopes this will relieve the pressure on the courts and ensure urgent cases are prioritised.

The new £10m support for rough sleepers comes after the government indicated earlier in the week that additional support would not be given to rehousing efforts during the second lockdown.

The £10m will be used to accommodate those living on the streets this winter but also to assist a drive in getting the homeless population registered with a GP. The government has said this will ensure more people can be protected from the virus and receive vaccinations in line with the government priority groups.

During the first lockdown the government launched its Everyone In programme aimed at securing accommodation for all rough sleepers during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the government, more than 33,000 people were supported through this scheme, with nearly 10,000 people moved into emergency accommodation and 23,000 moved into longer-term accommodation.

“What is very welcome here is the two-pronged approach: a continued commitment to getting everyone into safe accommodation but also now making sure people are registered with a GP so they can quickly access the vaccines. We know through our services that people facing homelessness often are not registered with a doctor’s surgery.

“Addressing this issue will be a life-saving intervention and a step towards ensuring people who are homeless are protected in the longer term.”

Steve Douglas, chief executive of homelessness charity St Mungo’s, said: “We and other homelessness charities called on government to provide an urgent and decisive response to support those sleeping rough who now face the double threat of severely cold weather and a continued health emergency.”