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The Law Society of England and Wales is calling for immediate investment in the justice system to support reform of the rental market.
This call comes as new quarterly figures published by the Ministry of Justice show a rise in renters at risk of homelessness.
The statistics also indicate that mortgage orders for possession increased by an incredible 38% (2,923 to 4,038), compared to the same quarter in 2023. Landlord possession orders rose 7% (from 17,987 to 19,254). This could lead to eviction for almost 25,000 people.
Law Society president Richard Atkinson said: “The rising number of eviction orders reflects the alarming state of our housing crisis and the urgent need for rental reform.
“The cost-of-living crisis has meant that renters are increasingly at risk of losing their homes. When faced with repossession, renters should be entitled to legal representation and access to justice. However, an underfunded justice system has denied renters a fair chance in court due to lack of legal aid.
“It is deeply concerning that 25.3m people (42%) do not have a local legal aid provider for housing advice.** This means that there is no support for renters who cannot afford legal help.
“It is critical that the government invests in the legal aid system, so that renters have the help they need to avoid losing their homes.
“While we welcome the government’s Renters’ Rights Bill, it will struggle to achieve effective rental reform without funding the justice system and legal aid. The government must immediately invest £4.3 million in housing legal aid alongside the Bill to close this gap in provision.
“Labour must recognise that only a well-funded justice system can protect renters’ rights.”
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