You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Stop using Ground 8 evictions, law centres tell housing associations
Several law centres have written to housing associations asking them to commit to not using Ground 8 evictions once the current ban on possession proceedings is lifted.
The government’s current eviction ban in response to the coronavirus crisis has meant that landlords cannot start possession proceedings against tenants until after 25 June. However, there are fears that once the ban is lifted, it could lead to a wave of evictions for those that have built up large rent arrears.
Nimrod Ben-Cnaan, head of policy and profile at the Law Centres Network, said several law centres have asked local social landlords “to voluntarily commit to not use ground 8 during the pandemic period.”
Landlords can serve a Ground 8 eviction notice when a tenant owes eight weeks’ rent. The ground is mandatory, which means tenants are automatically evicted if the conditions are met.
Hammersmith & Fulham Law Centre was one of the Law Centre Network’s members to have asked social landlords to alter their eviction policies ahead of the ban being lifted later this month.
In a letter sent to local housing associations the West London firm said: “Possession proceedings are currently stayed until 25 June 2020.
READ MORE
“We write this open letter to housing associations to request that you commit to not using Ground 8 to seek possession and amend your policies accordingly prior to the stay being lifted.
“Housing associations have a proud history of improving residents’ lives by providing safe and affordable homes.
“This is an opportunity to provide greater security for your tenants during these unprecedented times.”
Organisations such as Shelter and the Chartered Institute of Housing are calling on the government to temporarily suspend Ground 8 once the current ban is lifted.
Changes to Ground 8 are also being proposed in a draft bill put forward by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, which would allow judges to use their discretion when deciding whether to grant a possession order under these circumstances.
In March the National Housing Federation warned its members that no housing association tenant should be evicted as a result of coronavirus.
