Housing Possession Mediation Service

 In February 2021, a new mediation pilot was introduced as part of the current court process for housing possession cases. The mediation pilot is free to use for landlords and tenants involved in a housing possession court case and helps resolve cases without the need for a face to face court hearing. You work with a trained, neutral mediator, independent from HM Courts and Tribunals Service, who will help you identify issues and work to resolve them. All parties must agree on the outcome and feel they have reached an acceptable resolution. Read more on the GovUK website.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/housing-possession-mediation-service/housing-possession-mediation-service

Housing Minister Confirms Dates For Christmas Truce On Evictions

Bailiffs will be told not to enforce possession orders in England between 11 December and 11 January 2021, the housing minister has confirmed. In an answer to a written parliamentary question, Christopher Pincher confirmed the dates for the Christmas truce on evictions, which was first announced by the government earlier this month. Mr Pincher said the guidance being issued to bailiffs will also instruct them not to enforce possession orders in places where local public restrictions have been introduced by the government through legislation. The government has already said that evictions should not be carried out in areas which are subject to local lockdown measures. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/housing-minister-confirms-dates-for-christmas-truce-on-evictions-67980#:~:text=Bailiffs%20will%20be%20told%20not,the%20housing%20minister%20has%20confirmed 

Tenant Survey Dispels Fears Of Eviction Surge

Over 95% of private tenants are paying their rent or have made an arrangement with their landlord to pay less rent or defer payment during the pandemic. Independent polling for the National Residential Landlords Association finds that 87 per cent of private tenants have paid their rent as normal throughout the pandemic. Ahead of the courts beginning to hear possession cases from 24th August, the survey shows that just over three per cent of tenants are building arrears and are unable or unwilling to repay these. Less than a third of all those with arrears have been served with a possession notice. Read more on the NRLA website.

https://www.nrla.org.uk/news/tenant-survey-dispels-fears-of-evictions-surge

Pre-Lockdown Cases A Priority

Possession cases that began before lockdown – including proceedings against anti-social tenants – will be prioritised when the courts reopen next month. Housing Minister, Christopher Pincher MP confirmed the news in response to a written question asking whether the current evictions ban will be extended. The NRLA has been campaigning for cases which began before the pandemic to be given priority, after it was revealed some landlords and neighbours were trapped with abusive tenants, with the eviction ban preventing landlords repossessing the properties. Read more on the NRLA website.

https://news.rla.org.uk/pre-lockdown-cases-a-priority-nrla-win-on-possessions/

350,000 Renters Put At Risk Of Eviction

More than 148,000 renting households – equivalent to 350,000 people – were put at risk of losing their home in the 12 months to April, according to a new analysis of government figures by housing charity Shelter. People renting in the London boroughs of Enfield, and Barking and Dagenham faced the greatest risk of eviction, the charity said. In each of these boroughs, one in 23 rented homes were “under threat” during the period in question – which worked out as 2,314 households in Enfield, and 1,647 in Barking and Dagenham. Shelter calculated the figures by comparing the total number of possession claims issued in each area in the last 12 months with the total number of renting households in each location. Read more on Welfare Weekly.

Social Landlord Possession Claims Fall

Possession claims issued by social landlords have continued to fall as housing associations and councils work to prevent tenant rent arrears from building up. Figures released by the Ministry of Justice show there were just 21,160 claims for possession issued for social landlord properties in April to June this year. This is the lowest figure for any quarter since 2010. The overall number of social landlord possession claims issued in the first six months of 2015 is 48,636, down on the 55,232 issued last year. Social landlord possession claims initially rose from 90,217 in 2010 to 113,175 in 2013, but dropped to 105,645 last year. Download the stats from the GovUK website.

Social Landlords Expect Cuts to Trigger New Wave Of Homelessness

Social landlords are expecting a surge in rent arrears, tenant evictions and homelessness as the government pushes ahead with more welfare cuts and changes, according to new research. The continuing impact of the bedroom tax, together with moves to extend the benefit cap and impose further limits on housing benefit, will put further financial pressure on tenants, predicts a report by consultants Grant Thornton. It concludes that the ability of councils and housing associations to mitigate growing arrears has been severely eroded, and increasing numbers are issuing possession orders to tenants who have fallen behind with the rent. Download a copy of the report from the Grant Thornton website.