People living in private rented accommodation in Wales who have developed rent arrears as a direct result of the pandemic may be eligible to apply a new grant.
A new £10m grant is being introduced to help people in private rented accommodation who are struggling to pay their rent because of the pandemic.
The Tenancy Hardship Grant, which will be administered by local authorities, is designed to support people who have fallen behind on their rent by more than eight weeks between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021.
Rent arrears may have been the result of a loss of income due to furlough, a reduction in work or because they were only able to claim Statutory Sick Pay when ill with Covid-19. The grant is designed to help people stay in their homes and prevent them losing their tenancies.
Minister for climate change Julie James, who is responsible for housing, said: “Throughout the pandemic, we have taken unprecedented steps to tackle homelessness and support people to remain in their homes.
“The new Tenancy Hardship Grant is the latest in this range of measures and will help people in privately rented homes who have fallen behind on their rent because of the pandemic.
“I understand the stress and worry people will be experiencing if they have fallen behind in their rent. We also know that once someone falls behind with their rent it can be increasingly difficult for them to catch up without support.
“We also know that if they are made homeless, the impact on them and their families is huge – so too is the cost to public services of dealing with homelessness.
“This grant helps to prevent homelessness by helping people address their rent arrears and keep their tenancies.”
The new grant will replace the Tenancy Saver Loan, which was introduced in December 2020. Anyone who received a loan will have that loan converted to a grant.
People who are eligible can register their interest with their local authority immediately and grants will be processed from mid-July.
James added: “We have made significant steps to reduce homelessness over the course of the pandemic, supporting more than 10,000 people into accommodation since the beginning of the pandemic.
“To maintain this momentum, we will continue to provide vital funding to local authorities to prevent homelessness and to support people living in temporary accommodation to move into their own permanent and secure homes.
“I urge anyone who is struggling to pay their rent – even if they’re just starting to have difficulties – to contact their landlord or agent and organisations like Citizen’s Advice or Shelter Cymru so they receive the right advice and support.
“Our goal is to prevent homelessness, and ensure where it does occur that it is rare, brief and unrepeated.”
a small step in the Right direction, far too late.
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The irony of what the Communist Labour Welsh Govt is instituting must be lost on them. A Communist/Socialist Welsh Labour Govt effectively assisting LL to receive their due rent. Even more bizarre the UK Tory Govt NOT prepared to assist English LL at all with defaulted rent. Politics is just getting a bit weird! If I was a Welsh LL who would never vote Labour normally I certainly would now following the Welsh Labour Govt actions. We now have two Socialist Govts willing to ensure LL receive their due rent paid for by taxpayers and yet a supposedly Tory Govt; alleged defender of the little man does everything it can to eradicate small LL and certainly wouldn’t dream of assisting with defaulted rent to prevent homelessness. All very confusing!
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I hope LLs with welsh properties will benefit, but I suspect it will be paid direct to the tenant and the LL will see nothing, and still have to evict. As it’s a ‘grant’ the tenant is unlikely to have to repay it, and will still end up a burden on the State.
The SEISS was meant to support self-employed who are struggling, and should have covered their rent, yet so many have continued to work throughout, claimed their grants, and deliberately not paid their rent. I finally obtained a Possession Order on 21/6 and my feckless tenant was meant to vacate on 28/6. His lodger and dog [yet more income he was getting against the terms of his AST] have gone, but he’s not budging! I have now instructed my solicitor to organise bailiffs, which will be yet more delay and loss. I have a Payment Order + costs, but I will not see a penny of the £10,000 I have lost so far.
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