You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Northern mayors warn of ‘1930s-style’ homelessness when eviction ban ends
North West mayors Andy Burnham and Paul Dennett have written to the housing secretary warning of a homelessness crisis on a scale not seen since the 1930s when the government lifts the eviction ban on Sunday.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Mr Burnham and mayor of Salford Mr Dennett said that lifting the ban will “precipitate a huge surge in eviction, which may overwhelm services and lead to a sharp rise in homelessness”.
The mayors called on the government to extend the eviction ban “as a matter of great urgency”.
“Unless rapid and decisive action is taken to avert crisis, and increase the capacity to prevent avoidable impacts, we fear that homelessness could return to the streets of Greater Manchester on a scale not seen since the 1930s,” they warned.
READ MORE
The eviction ban, introduced to prevent an increase in homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been in place since March and was extended in June until 23 August.
But the mayors warned that in Greater Manchester there are up to 7,200 households in arrears which would be under threat of eviction while the claimant count for unemployment in the region has shot up by 88% to 141,000 since March.
A further 384,000 people in the area have been furloughed and the mayors are anticipating a further spike in unemployment and rent arrears when the scheme ends in October.
Mr Dennett said: “It is vital the government extends the temporary ban on evictions and protect renters [and] avoid a housing crisis in Greater Manchester.
“They should consider steps such as writing off rent arrears for those affected by the consequences of COVID-19, suspending the benefit cap and ensuring the courts enforce pre-action protocols for landlords. It will make a huge difference and help prevent a spike in rough sleeping.”
Local authorities should also be handed emergency prevention money to increase their capacity to advise, mediate and support people to avoid eviction, the mayors said.
Mr Burnham and Mr Dennett argued that the cost of introducing these measures will be “insignificant” compared with the financial and social cost of a substantial rise in homelessness.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has been contacted for comment.
