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Housing associations make ‘no eviction’ pledge permanent for tenants that co-operate with landlords
Landlords will not evict tenants facing severe financial hardships as long as they engage and work with them to get their payments back on track, a pledge by the National Housing Federation (NHF) published today has said.
The body, which represents 800 housing associations across England, confirmed it is updating its coronavirus ‘statement of support for residents’ by making it the permanent position of housing associations both during and well after the pandemic.
This pledge, which was reached with consensus of the NHF members, includes three promises, with the main being a commitment not to evict tenants if they work with landlords to fix arrears.
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It comes days before the government intends to lift the ban on bailiffs enforcing evictions against those with arrears. Under these rules, both social and private landlords have been able to serve eviction notices but not act upon them due to the ban.
Other pledges put forward in the NHF’s statement include promises to help tenants get the support they need regarding access to benefits and getting people into work.
It also includes a commitment from landlords to act compassionately when people are facing financial hardship and only pursue legal action as a last resort if residents do not co-operate or where it is urgently needed in cases of domestic abuse and anti-social behaviour that impacts on neighbours.
The promises effectively mirror those put forward in the NHF’s original COVID-19 pledge but with the position now becoming long term. The initial statement of support for tenants published at the start of the pandemic stated that nobody would be evicted because of arrears during the height of the coronavirus crisis.
Kate Henderson, chief executive of the NHF, said the decision to make the pledge permanent was so that those fearing losing their home once the ban is lifted were reassured.
She said: “The consequences of this crisis are far reaching and those worst affected could face financial hardship for years to come.
“That is why housing associations have come together to make a permanent commitment to residents, that no one will be evicted from their home as a result of financial hardship as long as residents are engaging with their housing association on a plan to manage their rent if they fall into arrears.”
She added: “The evictions process from social housing is very different to that in privately rented homes and evictions are only carried out as a very last resort and in serious cases. Housing associations are charitable landlords that exist to provide homes to people on low incomes and they want to work closely with residents who may be struggling financially.
“Residents who are worried about paying their rent or have fallen into arrears should be reassured that their landlord is there to support them.”
