Shelter has this morning launched a campaign in partnership with the Co-operative Bank to persuade the Government to press ahead with its proposal to abolish Section 21 evictions.
The two organisations have launched a PR stunt on Parliament Square today covering it with 172 cardboard boxes, each one representing the number of families evicted by private landlords every day.
This figure is based on Shelter’s analysis of a YouGov poll, funded by The Co-operative Bank, that reveals more than 188,000 private renters with children have received a no-fault eviction notice in the last three years.
Shelter says it is frustrated that the Government’s Renters (Reform) Bill, which entered parliament in May this year, will now not see its second reading until after the Summer recess.
It includes the proposals to ban ‘no fault’ Section 21 notice evictions which many landlords rely on to remove tenants in breach of their contracts.
Failing renters
Polly Neate (pictured), Chief Executive of Shelter, says: “The government is failing renters by stalling on the Renters (Reform) Bill.
“For each day that MPs are off on their six-week summer break, another 172 families will be hit with a no-fault eviction notice, giving them just two months to pack up and leave their home.
“With private rents rising rapidly and no genuinely affordable social homes available, those with an eviction pending face an increasingly hostile situation.
Fighting talk
Nick Slape, CEO of The Co-operative Bank, adds: “Fighting poverty and inequality across the UK is extremely important to our customers, and that’s why we’re campaigning on this issue alongside Shelter.
“We were encouraged to see this bill brought to parliament, but we need to see tangible action from the government now. Families across the country are depending on it.”
