Labour calls for urgent extension of evictions ban

Labour Metro Mayors, council leaders and the Mayor of London have written to the Housing Secretary calling for an urgent extension of the ban on evictions.

Signed by elected representatives of millions of people, the letter urges the government to fulfil its promise that ‘no renter who has lost income due to coronavirus will be forced out of their home’.

Labour has been urging the government to extend the ban, which is due to end on 23 August, with the homelessness charity Shelter estimating that nearly a quarter of a million people are at risk of eviction because of the economic impact of coronavirus.

Already, while the ban is in place, an estimated 20,000 people have been made homeless during the pandemic. Once the ban is lifted, under current law, anyone with two month’s arrears can be automatically evicted through the courts.

Thangam Debbonaire, Labour’s Shadow Housing Secretary, said: “The situation couldn’t be more urgent. The government has three days to avoid a cliff edge, with thousands of people at risk of eviction and homelessness. The government can still change course. They must extend the ban, and come out with a credible plan to protect renters during this crisis.”