Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect on levels of homelessness of ending the moratorium on evictions in England on 11 January 2021.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Government is clear that no one should be without a roof over their head. That is why we are spending over £700 million this year and will be spending over £750 million next year to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping, further demonstrating the Government’s commitment to end rough sleeping.
Renters will continue to be protected from eviction during this new national lockdown period. The Government has extended existing legislation to ensure bailiffs do not serve eviction notices or carry out evictions, except in the most serious circumstances, such as anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse in the social sector. This legislation will be in place for at least six weeks, after which it will be reviewed and consideration taken to the latest public health data. Landlords are also required to provide six months' notice except in the most serious cases such as anti-social behaviour, fraud and egregious rent arrears meaning tenants served notice now will not have to leave until July.