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| Tenant evictions reach highest level on record | Tenant evictions reach highest level on record |
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| A total of 42,728 households in rented accommodation in England and Wales were evicted by bailiffs in 2015, official figures show – the highest number since records began in 2000. | A total of 42,728 households in rented accommodation in England and Wales were evicted by bailiffs in 2015, official figures show – the highest number since records began in 2000. |
| Housing campaigners blamed welfare cuts and the shortage of affordable homes for the 2% rise in repossessions over the year, revealed in figures from the Ministry of Justice. More than half the evictions are thought to have been by private landlords. | Housing campaigners blamed welfare cuts and the shortage of affordable homes for the 2% rise in repossessions over the year, revealed in figures from the Ministry of Justice. More than half the evictions are thought to have been by private landlords. |
| The MoJ’s data showed that the number of rented properties repossessed fell in the final three months of the year, to 9,775. The previous quarter saw 11,269 households lose their home. | The MoJ’s data showed that the number of rented properties repossessed fell in the final three months of the year, to 9,775. The previous quarter saw 11,269 households lose their home. |
| The figures show that the number of evictions increased by 53% over the five years from 2010, to the equivalent of more than 250 a day. | The figures show that the number of evictions increased by 53% over the five years from 2010, to the equivalent of more than 250 a day. |
| Some 19,093 evictions in England were by social landlords, such as housing associations, while 5,919 were by private landlords. A further 16,440 were made through the “accelerated procedure”, which can be used by social and private landlords to evict tenants on assured shorthold tenancies. However, housing lawyer Giles Peaker said they would be “almost entirely” actions by private landlords. | Some 19,093 evictions in England were by social landlords, such as housing associations, while 5,919 were by private landlords. A further 16,440 were made through the “accelerated procedure”, which can be used by social and private landlords to evict tenants on assured shorthold tenancies. However, housing lawyer Giles Peaker said they would be “almost entirely” actions by private landlords. |
| The London borough of Newham had the highest rate of repossessions, equal to 191 for each 100,000 households in the area. Londoners were most likely to lose their homes, with 16 of the 20 boroughs with the highest proportion of landlord repossessions in the capital. | The London borough of Newham had the highest rate of repossessions, equal to 191 for each 100,000 households in the area. Londoners were most likely to lose their homes, with 16 of the 20 boroughs with the highest proportion of landlord repossessions in the capital. |
| The number of repossession claims – the start of the repossession process – fell during the year, to 148,043, the MoJ figures showed. Of these, 90,317 were by social landlords, 20,063 were by private landlords and 37,663 were accelerated claims. | The number of repossession claims – the start of the repossession process – fell during the year, to 148,043, the MoJ figures showed. Of these, 90,317 were by social landlords, 20,063 were by private landlords and 37,663 were accelerated claims. |
| Campbell Robb, chief executive of the housing charity Shelter, said: “Today’s figures are clear proof of the devastating impact that welfare cuts and the chronic shortage of affordable homes are having on hundreds of renters every day.” | Campbell Robb, chief executive of the housing charity Shelter, said: “Today’s figures are clear proof of the devastating impact that welfare cuts and the chronic shortage of affordable homes are having on hundreds of renters every day.” |
| “Successive governments have failed to build enough genuinely affordable homes, and short-sighted welfare cuts are only making things tougher. The only way to fix this crisis for good is for the government to commit to building homes that people on ordinary incomes can actually afford to rent or buy.” | “Successive governments have failed to build enough genuinely affordable homes, and short-sighted welfare cuts are only making things tougher. The only way to fix this crisis for good is for the government to commit to building homes that people on ordinary incomes can actually afford to rent or buy.” |
| The shadow housing minister, John Healey, said the MoJ figures “expose just how difficult life has become for millions of renters after Conservative ministers’ five years of failure on housing”. | |
| He added that the figures could be “just the tip of the iceberg”, as some tenants could be losing their homes without going through the court process. | |
| Separate figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders showed that repossessions of mortgaged properties fell by around half in 2015, to the lowest number since 2002. | Separate figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders showed that repossessions of mortgaged properties fell by around half in 2015, to the lowest number since 2002. |
| In total, 10,200 homes were repossessed during the year, of which 3,000 were buy-to-let properties. These properties were twice as likely to be repossessed by lenders in the fourth quarter of the year, at a rate of one repossession per 2,500 mortgages, compared with one in 5,000 in the homeowner market. | In total, 10,200 homes were repossessed during the year, of which 3,000 were buy-to-let properties. These properties were twice as likely to be repossessed by lenders in the fourth quarter of the year, at a rate of one repossession per 2,500 mortgages, compared with one in 5,000 in the homeowner market. |
| A spokesman for the CML said that when a homeowner fell into mortgage arrears, the lender would explore a variety of options to allow them to stay in their home, which could include a payment holiday to help them through a period of unemployment, or a temporary switch from a repayment mortgage to interest-only payments. Seeking a repossession “will be the last option for the lender”, he said. | A spokesman for the CML said that when a homeowner fell into mortgage arrears, the lender would explore a variety of options to allow them to stay in their home, which could include a payment holiday to help them through a period of unemployment, or a temporary switch from a repayment mortgage to interest-only payments. Seeking a repossession “will be the last option for the lender”, he said. |
| He added: “A buy-to-let loan is taken out by a landlord to invest in property and so is fundamentally different. These borrowers may not have the same range of options. For example, many landlords only borrow on an interest-only basis at the outset, so switching them to cheaper repayments may not be an option. | He added: “A buy-to-let loan is taken out by a landlord to invest in property and so is fundamentally different. These borrowers may not have the same range of options. For example, many landlords only borrow on an interest-only basis at the outset, so switching them to cheaper repayments may not be an option. |
| “Lenders must also consider the position of tenants, who may be paying rent to a landlord who is not paying the mortgage. In this case, an option may be to appoint a receiver of rent to fulfil the role of the landlord, and ensure that tenants can remain in the property as long as they continue to pay the rent.” | “Lenders must also consider the position of tenants, who may be paying rent to a landlord who is not paying the mortgage. In this case, an option may be to appoint a receiver of rent to fulfil the role of the landlord, and ensure that tenants can remain in the property as long as they continue to pay the rent.” |