Homelessness figures: Ban no fault evictions before more families made homeless this winter
EMBARGO: Immediate release
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10% increase in families threatened with homelessness thanks to no fault evictions, which the government have repeatedly promised to ban
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14% increase in children living in temporary accommodation
The Liberal Democrats have called on the government to urgently bring in a ban on no fault evictions, after the latest homelessness figures revealed that 34,850 were threatened with homelessness between April and June.
The party warned that thousands more families risk being left without a home this winter because the government has delayed its plans to ban no-fault evictions. 6,640 households were threatened with homelessness due to a no fault eviction notice, a 10% increase on the previous year.
The latest figures show 105,750 families are living in temporary accommodation, a 10% increase, including 68,070 with children, an increase of 14% .
The government has delayed plans to delay no fault evictions in the Renters Reform Bill, after Michael Gove announced the ban will only be brought in once improvements to the courts are made. The Liberal Democrats are calling on the government to fast-track and fix the Bill before Parliament rises for Christmas, to prevent more families being made homeless through no fault of their own.
Ministers are also reintroducing measures to criminalise rough sleeping in the Criminal Justice Bill.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran said:
“These heart-breaking figures show far too many families are facing another bleak winter without a place to call home.
“It is disgraceful that this Conservative government has chosen to delay and weaken their long promised ban on no fault evictions, while continuing to criminalise rough sleeping.
“More vulnerable people and children risk facing a Christmas without a permanent roof over their head because of this endless dither and delay.
“This government crashed the economy and sent rents soaring, now they are refusing to help as people face being evicted from their home. It’s time Conservative ministers accepted that homelessness is not a lifestyle choice, too often it is a result of their shameful decisions.”
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