Evictions by private landlords outstrip social housing sector for first time during pandemic

Those numbers dropped dramatically after the March 2020 ban, to 823 for the social sector and 1,317 in the private sector from April to June.

The number of claims rose significantly between October and December as the complete moratorium on evictions ended, surging 155.3% among social landlords to 2,265 and 113.6% among private landlords to 3,618.

For social landlords, the number of claims continued to rise in early 2021 with 2,542 issued between January and March, while dropping to 2,833 in the private rented sector.

That leaves eviction claims in the private sector at around half pre-pandemic levels, and claims in the social housing sector at around a fifth of pre-pandemic levels.

Despite the ban on bailiff-enforced evictions still being in place, county court bailiffs removed 110 social rented sector tenants in England during that three-month period and 117 private tenants.

Government guidance sanctioned exemptions to the ban in some cases, such as those involving illegal occupation, fraud and domestic abuse or extreme rent arrears.

Catherine Ryder, director of policy and research at the National Housing Federation, said: “Possession claims in social housing at the start of this year were 82% lower than the previous year.

“This demonstrates our sector’s commitment to supporting their residents to stay in their homes when they get into arrears, rather than seeking repossession through the courts.

“Housing associations have urged their residents to get in touch if they are struggling to pay their rent as a result of the coronavirus crisis and have pledged not to evict anyone who does so.

“Alongside this, we have seen our members put a great deal of additional resource into tenancy sustainment services, providing financial support, and helping with benefit claims.

“Since the courts reopened in September there have been a relatively small number of repossession claims in the social housing sector, but these will represent cases that are particularly urgent and pressing, such as anti-social behaviour.”

Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “The vast majority of private landlords have worked with their tenants affected during the pandemic to keep them in their homes, but there is a limit to what they can do without further help from the government.

“The chancellor needs to recognise the rent arrears crisis caused by the economic impact of the pandemic and provide an urgent financial package to support private tenants and landlords.”