As the coronavirus pandemic was developing in March the Labour Party called on the Government to support renters.  The Government responded by placing a ban on evictions of any tenants negatively affected by coronavirus.   The ban has now been extended to August 23.  Bolton Labour believe this should be extended further into the New Year.

 

Labours Environmental Services Spokesperson, Cllr Kevin McKeon said “Nationally, 21 million people live in rented accommodation and one in five adult renters believe they are likely to lose their job in the next three months because of the pandemic.  In addition, two thirds of private renters and three quarters of social renters have no savings.  Too many people are at risk of not being able to pay their rent. Shelter, the housing charity estimate that as many as two and a half million tenants will fall behind with their rent for the first time.”

 

Besides calling for the ban to be extended Labour also wants tenants to be given two years to pay back any accrued arrears caused by the effects of the pandemic.  This supports tenants and also gives reassurances to landlords.  The housing benefit element of Universal Credit must also be raised to enable tenants to stay in their homes.

 

Cllr McKeon added “To cope with the expected recession caused by the pandemic the Chancellor is rightly supporting business and jobs.  It is equally right that he also continues to offer renters the lifeline that many of them so desperately need.”

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