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Evictions soar as welfare reforms bite (8 December 2014)

Date: 08/12/2014
Duncan Lewis, Housing Solicitors, Evictions soar as welfare reforms bite

Housing charities are calling for more measures to protect tenants as the number of evictions by bailiffs as a result of debt and rogue landlords soars.

The Guardian reports that evictions in England and Wales reached record levels in November 2014 – and figures from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) reveal that in the three months from July to September, a total of 11,000 properties were repossessed by bailiffs.

Repossessions now stand at the highest level since records began in 2000. Housing charity Shelter estimates that 560 households – 1,300 people – are at risk of eviction or having their home repossessed in England and Wales every day.

Escalating property prices and welfare reforms are two factors in the increasing number of Britons facing eviction or homelessness.

Landlords able to find rental tenants much more easily is another factor being blamed – with many rental tenants forced to live in disrepair rather than confront their landlord over maintenance issues and risk possible eviction as a result.

Shelter estimates that in 2013, there were 213,000 revenge evictions – also called malicious evictions – by landlords who evicted a tenant rather than effect repairs to a rented property after a tenant complained.

Shelter has analysed figures from the MoJ and found several “hotspots” across the UK where revenge evictions are more likely – including Newham in east London, which has one of the highest risk factors for eviction. Shelter says that on average, one in every 36 households in Newham is at risk of eviction.

In southwest England, the seaside resort of Bournemouth is one of the most high-risk areas for repossession.

Overseas investment in the UK property market has also been blamed for pushing up house prices and rents – with many UK house hunters unable to afford to buy in areas which were traditionally working class, such as Newham or Hackney in north London.

Attempts to crack down on rogue landlords have also proved difficult to implement – in November, Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather failed in her attempt to tackle rogue landlords in a private members’ bill, after the Tenancies Reform Bill was defeated.

Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of housing solicitors and can advise rental tenants and homeowners on a wide range of housing matters, including unlawful eviction, housing possession and Landlord & Tenant disputes.

Duncan Lewis is also a leading firm of Legal Aid solicitors and can also advise on:

• Debt management
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For expert legal advice on housing law, call Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors on 020 7923 4020.


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