Yesterday marked the resumption of eviction hearings in England because the Government has refused calls from Labour and homelessness charities to extend the ban on evictions during the Coronavirus crisis.
Research from the homelessness charity Shelter shows that 170,000 private renters have been threatened with eviction by their landlord or letting agent, with a further 230,000 at risk of eviction due to unpaid rent since the start of the pandemic.
Whilst the Government has announced that evictions will not be enforced in areas where local lockdown restrictions apply, and a truce on the enforcement of evictions over the Christmas period, it merely delays the inevitability of homelessness for those issued with a notice before August 1. The Government needs to develop a credible plan to prevent a homelessness crisis this winter.
If you are facing eviction, please get in touch with your local council’s housing department and find out what support is available to you. Local Councils have been given extra funds to offer Discretionary Housing Payments for people already receiving Housing Benefit or receive housing support through Universal Credit.
I have included below some helpful links and contact information points if you need help or advice in this situation.
Advice Pages
Barnsley and Rotherham Council homelessness prevention contact numbers
- Barnsley: 01226 773870
- Rotherham: 01709 336009 or 07748143170 (outside of office hours)
Claim Discretionary Housing Payment from the Council