Labour warns the Government they have 48 hours to protect renters

The Labour Party is calling on the Government to extend the evictions ban due to end on Sunday 20^thSeptember to avoid a homelessness crisis this winter.

Labour’s Shadow Housing Secretary Thangam Debbonaire accused the Government of “prioritising reopening old wounds on Brexit above protecting renters”.

After ban was extended in August, Ms Debbonaire wrote to Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick calling on him to use the short Parliamentary time available to bring legislation to protect renters, and keep his promise that “no renter who has lost income due to coronavirus will be forced out of their home.”

The Government failed to bring forward legislation to stop automatic evictions, as Labour called for, and instead introduced the controversial Internal Markets Bill.

Thangam Debbonaire, said:

“Coronavirus cases are rising, vast swathes of the country are set to be under local lockdown, and the Covid jobs crisis isset to get worse. This is no time for the Governmenttore-start evictions.

“The Government is walking right into a homelessness crisis this winter. They’ve wasted the short time they bought themselves by extending the ban in August, prioritising reopening old wounds on Brexit above protecting renters.

“The ban must be extended before Sunday, and the Government needs to come forward with a credible plan to keep their promise that no renter will lose their home because of Coronavirus.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

·ONS data released this week shows the number of employees on the payroll is down 700 000 since the start of the pandemic: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/uklabourmarket/september2020

·The Government is expected to announce a new round of local local down restrictions in the North East:https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/18726109.new-covid-19-lockdown-measures-north-east-friday/

·16 health bodies warned that a rise in evictions, forcing people into overcrowded accommodation or homelessness “could significantly contribute to an increase of Covid-19 infections”:https://www.ft.com/content/c494720d-2c1f-40db-8507-dab4fe71c024

·Research by Shelter estimates that 230 000 renters are at risk of a Covid-evictionhttps://england.shelter.org.uk/media/press_releases/articles/230,000_renters_at_risk_of_covid-eviction_when_the_government_ban_lifts

·Shelter also estimates that 322 000 adult private renters who were not in arrears before the pandemic have since fallen behind on their rent: https://england.shelter.org.uk/media/press_releases/articles/landlords,_letting_agents_and_charities_urge_the_government_to_help_renters_clear_covid-19_rent_debts_and_stay_in_their_homes

·On 21^stAugust the Government announced they would extend notice periods for most tenants to 6 months, however, this was not retrospective so won’t help those who were served notice between 26^thMarch and 28^thAugust, and the notice period for those in six month arrears or more has in fact gone down, from 6 months to 3 months.

·On 16^thSeptember, the Government announced that the ban on evictions for businesses will be extended to the end of the year:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-extends-support-to-stop-business-evictions-this-year

·Full text of letter from 28^thAugust:

Dear Robert,

I am writing to you following your announcement that there will be a four-week extension to the evictions ban. While this eleventh-hour U-turn was necessary, such a brief extension means there is a real risk that this will simply give renters a few more weeks to pack their bags. Renters need urgent clarity on what the Minister’s plans are going forward and how any legislation will be passed in the time available.

The Government has already committed to scrapping Section 21 evictions. In addition, the Opposition has called for legislation to and stop courts from being forced to evict those in arrears (under Section 8 Grounds 8) and better support for tenants. As you’ll know, the Government could bring forward a short bill to make these legislative changes that is consistent with the Coronavirus Act.

Does the Government plan to use this time to bring legislation to protect renters? If so, what form will this legislation take? The Government has given itself only twelve sitting days before the extension ends on 20th September. What assurance can you give that any legislation will pass both Houses and receive royal assent in the short time available?

How and when will any legislation be brought to the House? The Leader of the House would have the opportunity, either during your Business Statement on 3rd September or through an emergency business statement before then, to announce the timetable for fast-tracked legislation. The Opposition stands ready to work with the Government on both the drafting of the bill and its passage through Parliament. In order to do this, we must have clarity in the coming days.

What steps has the Government taken to collect data on how many people are at risk of eviction and potentially homelessness when the ban is lifted? Will you meet with me as soon as possible, and share immediate sight of any draft legislation? What steps will you take to ensure that other stakeholders, like local government, the HCLG Select Committee, housing and renters organisations are also consulted on any draft legislation?

I look forward to an urgent response to my questions above. I understand some are the responsibility of the Leader of the House, so have copied this letter to him.

Yours sincerely,

Thangam Debbonaire Valerie Vaz

Shadow Secretary of State for Housing Shadow Leader of the House