,
Labour’s Shadow Housing Secretary, in response to the
Housing Minister postponing plans to scrap Section 21 evictions,
said:
“The situation facing renters couldn’t be more urgent. Lifting
the ban on evictions as we head into a second Covid spike is
irresponsible and a betrayal of their promise that no renter will
lose their home because of Coronavirus.
“Renters are being served Section 21 notices, leading to
automatic evictions, as we speak. This legislation cannot wait.”
Ends
Notes
- The 2019 Conservative Party manifestos pledged to end Section
21 evictions through a Renters Reform Bill.
- During an Urgent Question on the end of the eviction ban
today, Ms Debbonaire said in the House of Commons:
“It’s scandalous Government lifts the evictions ban just as we’re
heading into a second spike of Coronavirus…
“In March, the Housing Secretary promised: “no renter who has
lost income due to coronavirus will be forced out of their home,
nor will any landlord face unmanageable debts”
“The Government has reneged on that promise.
“They failed to change the law to prevent automatic evictions,
failed to amend social security to help people make rent, failed
to deal with arrears built up over the crisis for over 300 000
renters.
“Devolved Governments have a plan to prevent an evictions and
homelessness crisis. But as with testing, this Government had
summer to develop their plan and they wasted it.
“They now choose to withdraw the protection of the evictions ban
exactly when it’s most needed.”
