Shelter responds to the extension of the bailiff ban
Posted 14 Feb 2021
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “Thousands of renters who’ve been living in fear of the bailiffs’ knock at the door, have today been given a few more weeks in their home.
“This short extension to the bailiff ban may keep people safe for now, but it’s not an answer to the evictions crisis. Renters are still are being served with eviction notices every day, and our helpline is flooded with calls from those desperately worried about paying their rent.
“Before the ban is lifted, the government must give renters a real way out of debt. That means a lifeline of emergency grants to help pay off ‘Covid-arrears’ so people can avoid the terrifying risk of eviction altogether.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
As of December 2020, almost 445,000 private renting adults in England had either fallen behind on their rent or received some kind of eviction notice from their landlord or letting agent in the preceding month. [All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 3862 adults in England, including 636 private renters, 133 with children in the household. Fieldwork was undertaken between 26th - 30th November 2020. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all English adults (aged 18+). Population estimates for households and families have been calculated using data from the English Housing Survey 2019-20 and 2018-19.]