The government is being urged to provide greater support for tenants during these difficult times.

A study from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) estimates that arrears could already total £400m in England and Wales, with this figure likely to grow.

Based on its poll, it estimates that as many as 2.5 million households are worried about paying rent over winter, with 700,000 already in arrears and 350,000 at risk of eviction.

The foundation argues that existing protections for renters are simply not enough, especially for those on lower incomes.
JRF is calling on the government to reinstate a blanket eviction ban to help support tenants over the next few months.

Helen Barnard, director at JRF, commented: “Millions of people are anxious about paying the rent over winter, having run down their limited savings, reduced their spending and borrowed from friends, family or the bank. The worrying number of households already in arrears shows renters are running out of options. Without action we could see a wave of evictions and a surge in homelessness over the winter.

“The government acted swiftly during the first wave of the pandemic to ensure no one would be forced from their home, rightly recognizing that we all want to protect one another from harm during this crisis. Bringing back a watertight ban on evictions now is the right thing to do.

“But without action which seeks to address growing arrears, any ban on eviction or enforcement only kicks the can down the road, with renters vulnerable to losing their homes again as restrictions are lifted. A targeted package of support to address high rent arrears will give renters and landlords much needed breathing space as we continue to weather the storm.”