Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Eviction ban lift: 'Low-income BAME renters more likely to be affected than white people'

Eviction ban lift: 'Low-income BAME renters more likely to be affected than white people'

TENANTS from black and ethnic minority communities on low incomes live in fear of being evicted from their homes in the next three months, a survey has found, as Britain’s coronavirus eviction ban comes to an end on Monday (31).

BAME households with lower incomes, such as those in the catering industry or who drive cabs, are particularly at the deep end since most of them lost their jobs in the pandemic, the study by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation found. Its survey also showed that renters from BAME backgrounds are almost twice as likely to be worried about being evicted from their properties, as compared to white tenants.


The foundation, a charity that works on poverty issues in the UK, also said almost two million private renters fear that they will not find another place if they lose their home once the eviction ban is lifted. It further warned of a spike in evictions and homelessness as the ban is lifted today.

"We're really worried that there will be a wave of homelessness coming through," said the charity’s economist Rachelle Earwaker.

GettyImages 459878738 (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

The survey, commissioned by the JRF and conducted by YouGov on more than 10,000 households, claims that about 400,000 renters have already had eviction notices or been told to expect them soon and a further 450,000 households are in arrears. Almost 1.5 million renting households have reduced their spending in some way to offset lost income during the pandemic, the report said.

Alicia Kennedy, director of Generation Rent, an organisation representing private renters, described the government's decision to end the ban as "reckless".

"If the government doesn't intervene, thousands of homeless families could be turning to their council for help," she said.

The temporary ban was introduced in March 2020 on bailiff-enforced evictions and was extended several times since it has provided much-needed security to renters during the pandemic. From June 1, eviction notice periods will drop from six months to four months. Before the pandemic, it was usually two months in England.

The fear of renters is now putting pressure on the government to bring in emergency legislation to increase the permanent protection for those struggling to pay their rent due to the pandemic.

The Local Government Association (LGA), charities and Labour are reportedly uniting to call on ministers to fulfil a manifesto commitment to put an end to “no-fault evictions”, a clause that allows landlords to evict tenants without giving a reason.

More For You

british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
Car Tax Changes: EV Owners Now Required to Pay for the First Time

Owners of electric vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025 will pay £10 for the first year, followed by the standard VED rate of £195 from the second year. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Car tax changes take effect: EV owners to pay for first time

FROM today, 1 April 2025, electric cars, vans, and motorcycles in the UK will be subject to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time.

The change, introduced in the 2022 Autumn Statement by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, aims to make motoring taxation fairer.

Keep ReadingShow less
scotland-minimum-wages-iStock

Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will receive an annual pay increase of £1,400 in real terms. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Wage increase takes effect for thousands of workers in Scotland

HUNDREDS of thousands of workers in Scotland will see a pay increase as new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect from Tuesday.

The changes will benefit approximately 220,000 people, according to STV News.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-energy-bill-iStock

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

April bill increases put financial strain on single parents

A RANGE of essential household bills are increasing from April, with Citizens Advice warning that single parents will be among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased, BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools
Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence'
Netflix

Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools

THE NETFLIX drama Adolescence will be shown in UK secondary schools as part of efforts to address harmful online influences on young boys, officials announced on Monday.

The show has sparked debate over the impact of toxic and misogynistic content on the internet. Prime minister Keir Starmer met the show's creators, charities, and young people at Downing Street, calling the initiative an important step in starting discussions about the content teenagers are exposed to online.

Keep ReadingShow less