Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Evictions and Homelessness

Monday 14 June 2021 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The ban on bailiff enforcement has ended, but measures introduced by the Government mean fewer cases are progressing to eviction.
  • Councils have been allocated 5.2 million from the rough sleeping initiative and 6.8 million of homelessness prevention grant funding.
  • The Government remains committed to repealing section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 to end no-fault evictions.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Florence Eshalomi Labour (Co-op) Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Housing
Context

The question arises from concerns about the impact of lifting the ban on bailiff enforcement, which may lead to an increase in evictions and homelessness.

Question

What assessment has been made of the potential effect of ending the moratorium on evictions on levels of (a) evictions and (b) homelessness?

Answer from Eddie Hughes

Although the ban on bailiff enforcement has ended, measures introduced by the Government mean that fewer cases are progressing to eviction. Landlord possession claims were down by 74% in quarter 1 of this year compared with the same period in 2020, and the number of families in temporary accommodation is at its lowest since 2016. For those who need more support, councils have been provided with £310 million through the homelessness prevention grant, which is an uplift of £47 million on last year.

Answered
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Q2 Karen Buck Lab
Housing
Context

Before the end of the evictions ban, a significant portion of homeless Londoners were being housed away from their local areas and support systems. Previous government actions have been criticized for not addressing this issue.

Question

A quarter of all homeless households in London are accommodated away from their home areas before the end of the evictions ban, which affects their schools, jobs, and networks. Will the Minister condemn this practice? What will he do to ensure that homeless families are accommodated near their support networks?

Answer from Eddie Hughes

Councils should handle these matters as they are closer to the problem than the Government. The Government has allocated £5.2 million from the rough sleeping initiative and £6.8 million of homelessness prevention grant funding to the hon. Lady's council.

Partly answered

Not addressed: condemnation of housing homeless households away from their local areas

How: It Is Important That These Matters Are Handled By The Councils Themselves, Because They Are Much Closer To The Problem Than The Government

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Q3 Florence Eshalomi Labour (Co-op) Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Housing
Context

Residents in Vauxhall face eviction threats due to the end of section 21 no-fault evictions, despite a government commitment in 2019.

Question

I thank the Minister for his response to my hon. Friend, but one of the key ways to prevent homelessness is ensuring people are not being evicted without justification or adjudication. The Government promised to end section 21 no-fault evictions two years ago, yet tenants still face eviction threats in Vauxhall. When can we expect the renters reform Bill?

Answer from Eddie Hughes

We remain committed to delivering a better deal for renters, including repealing section 21 of the Housing Act 1988. We will legislate but it is only right that legislation considers the impact of the pandemic and balances reforms to improve the private rented market. A White Paper on our package of reforms to the private rented sector will be brought forward in the autumn.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a specific timeline for bringing forward the renters reform Bill

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Q4 Mike Amesbury Lab
NHS Housing
Context

Four years after the Grenfell tragedy, research shows that millions of private renters fear unsafe properties due to eviction threats post-evictions ban.

Question

Today marks four years since 72 people lost their lives in Grenfell. Shelter reports show that 3.2 million private renters are scared to report unsafe or unhealthy homes for fear of eviction, and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation notes nearly a million tenants face eviction fears post-ban end. The Secretary of State promised no one would lose homes due to the crisis. How will this promise be honoured, and when will section 21 evictions come to an end?

Answer from Eddie Hughes

This Government have committed over £200 billion through the furlough scheme, helping people avoid rent arrears. Nine out of ten people are not in arrears, showing significant support for renters. In coming months, I look forward to working with hon. Members on a Bill delivering appropriate and helpful reforms to all parts of the sector.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific timeline or commitment regarding ending section 21 evictions

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