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Social landlord evictions down 61% compared to pre-pandemic
Social landlords are evicting tenants at less than a third of the rate they were before the pandemic, new government figures have revealed.
The mortgage and landlord possession statistics, released today, showed that of the 14,124 landlords that started court proceedings to evict tenants between October and December 2021, 4,807 were social landlords – compared with 15,369 in the final quarter of 2019.
Before the pandemic, social landlords represented 60% of all eviction proceedings, while now they represent 33%.
In contrast, private landlords made up the largest proportion of possession claims at 41% (5,912) in the last quarter of 2021, and are now starting as many court proceedings to evict tenants as they did before the pandemic. The remaining cases were accelerated claims.
The latest figures are up 41% on the previous quarter, although still down 43% compared to pre-pandemic levels overall.
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A ban on bailiff-enforced evictions was introduced in December 2021 in response to the rise in coronavirus cases.
The ban meant that landlords were still able to carry out evictions via the courts, however bailiffs were not allowed to enter households to enact the evictions.
The ban, which followed a complete moratorium on evictions between March and September 2020, came to an end in June last year.
It emerged last month that nearly 400 households were made homeless every day in the three full months after the eviction ban was lifted.
Homelessness charity Shelter said the eviction ban “helped keep many renters safe in their homes during the pandemic”.
“Now this protection has gone, evictions are picking up and renters, who faced job losses and furlough, are struggling even more,” it said.
It warned of a further wave of evictions due to the cost of living crisis.
Osama Bhutta, director of campaigns, policy and communications at Shelter, said: “Right now, huge numbers of eviction notices are dropping on doormats across the country, and our services are working round the clock to help as many people as possible keep the bailiffs at bay.
“The reality is though that thousands more people are at risk of eviction.
“Soaring inflation and rocketing energy bills may be the final straw for many renters struggling to keep a roof over their heads.
“Many have no savings at all, and increasingly some are being forced to choose between feeding their families, heating their homes, or paying their rent.”
He added that while government measures, such as the £65m rent arrears fund, will help, “it won’t be enough to protect every family who is barely hanging on to their home”.
“It’s time the government gave renters the financial lifeline they need by boosting support and reversing the damaging welfare cuts that have left people on the brink of destitution,” Mr Bhutta said.
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