We very much welcomed the eviction ban at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. This was the measure the government put in place that meant landlords could not evict tenants who fell into rent arrears during this time. It gave reassurance to those who may have otherwise been at risk of homelessness.
The ban on evictions ended on 31st May 2021. We believe that this will lead to a huge number of evictions and an increase in homelessness as a result, and that young people will be considerably affected.
Kelly Headen, Supported Lodgings Manager at Step by Step, comments: “There are likely to be several young people who have previously been supported by us that may fall into difficulty. Many will have been employed in the hospitality and retail industries, often on zero hours contracts.”
There is evidence to support the idea that an increase in evictions is imminent. The Joseph Rountree Foundation says that around 400,000 renters have already received eviction notices or been told to expect them.
“The end of the eviction ban will inevitably bring hardship to many who have suffered loss of income during the pandemic,” says Kelly Headen. “It will particularly affect young people who did not meet the criteria for government support through furlough or self-employed grants.”
We do, of course, appreciate that landlords would have been negatively impacted by the eviction ban, with many struggling to pay their mortgage with no rental income. It is evident that the ban on evictions could not continue indefinitely. But we believe that the government could put mitigating measures in place.
Mae Partridge, Step by Step Regional Foyer Manager, says: “It is essential that there are preventative measures in place, such as emergency legislation with protection for both renters and landlords who lost their income due to the pandemic. Working for Step by Step and seeing the impact that homelessness can have, I believe in a permanent end to no-fault evictions.”
Ending no-fault evictions would mean that landlords have to state a reason for seeking eviction, paving the way for a fairer, non-discriminatory system.
If you are a young person struggling as a result of these changes, please use the Live Chat feature on our homepage and we'll be happy to offer advice.
Mike found himself homeless on Christmas Eve at just 19 years old. There would have been very few options available to him if not for Step by Step's Supported Independence Flats. He went from homeless to housed in just one hour.
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