[ad_1]
The number of households requiring council support for homelessness as a result of a no-fault eviction has increased by more than 50% across the north of England over the last three years, exclusive analysis by Sky News shows.
In the North East, the proportion of households homeless or at risk of homelessness as a result of a Section 21 notice, often called a no-fault eviction, has risen 88%, according to our analysis of new data from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
In England as a whole there has been a 18% rise between the second quarter of 2019 and the second quarter of 2022.
A Section 21 notice allows a landlord to evict tenants on Assured Shorthold Tenancies, the most common type of tenancy in the private rental sector, without reason with only two months’ notice.
During the pandemic this was extended to six months to give tenants more security, but the government withdrew this measure in October 2021.
Why is this happening?
Turmoil in the private rental sector is having a devastating knock-on effect on homelessness.
Half of homeless or at-risk households came from the private rented sector on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy, up from a fifth in the second quarter of 2019.
This means it is now the most common reason why people need support from the council. Previously the most likely reason was that family and friends were no longer able to provide accommodation.
Our analysis found a marked increase in homelessness as a result of landlords wishing to sell or re-let their properties.
The number of households receiving support for homelessness for this reason has increased 44% in England and as much as 170% in the North East.
Nathan Emerson, chief executive of landlord membership organisation Propertymark, says that an increase in evictions is the result of the backlog created by the ban during the pandemic and an unfavourable economic and regulatory outlook for landlords.
“What we had was a blockage in the housing system because of…
[ad_2]
