Housing charities welcome Bill to protect private tenants
3 December 2009
Four leading housing charities have welcomed an announcement from Brian Iddon MP that he will be pushing for better protection for private tenants, the hidden victims of the repossession crisis, in a Private Members Bill.
Crisis, Citizens Advice, Shelter and the Chartered Institute of Housing have hailed the move which comes in response to a joint campaign to introduce legislation to protect private tenants from eviction with little or no notice when their landlords get repossessed. The proposed change in the law will give the courts the power to delay possession to allow tenants a two month notice period to find a new home.
Brian Iddon MP was drawn first in the Private Members' Ballot, meaning he picked this issue above many others and is in a strong position to ensure his Bill now becomes law.
Leslie Morphy, Chief Executive of Crisis, said: "We are delighted that Brian Iddon has taken up the baton and pledged to work to give private tenants the protection they so desperately need. There are around 324,000 households who would be at risk of losing their homes with little or no notice if their landlord was repossessed so this legislation cant come soon enough. We now hope that Government and all parties will work together ensure this legislation is passed without delay."
Citizens Advice Chief Executive David Harker said: "This Bill sets out to end a clear injustice whereby private tenants who have paid their rent and kept to all the terms of their tenancy agreement can be evicted without notice if their landlord is repossessed. CAB advisers report seeing cases where the first the tenant knows about the situation is when they come home to find bailiffs in their home, or to find their belongings have been put out on the street and the locks have been changed. We would urge all MPs and peers to give the Bill their full support so that these forgotten victims of repossession get the legal protection they deserve."
Sarah Webb, Chief Executive of CIH, said: "We are very pleased indeed that Brian Iddon MP is giving his support to this important issue. It is absolutely crucial that households living in the private rented sector are afforded basic legal protection when they are facing the consequences of their landlords being repossessed."
Shelter deputy director of policy and campaigns Caroline Davey said: "It is shocking that innocent tenants who have caused no problems and paid their rent on time can be forced to leave their home with as little as a few hours notice if their landlord has failed to keep up mortgage payments. We welcome Brian Iddon's commitment to protecting private tenants and hope that sufficient time is made to ensure this vital piece of legislation will now be passed before the general election."
FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR TO REQUEST AN INTERVIEW, PLEASE CONTACT:
Garry Lemon, Crisis, on 020 7426 3880 or garry.lemon@crisis.org.uk
Moira Haynes, Citizens Advice Press Office, 020 7833 7107 or 07790 019116
Shelter press office: 020 7505 2162
Jill Dwyer, CIH Press Office, email: press@cih.org or call 02476 851780 or 07786 716961
NOTES TO EDITORS:
A private matter? Private tenants: the forgotten victims of the repossessions crisis
Is available on request and online at www.crisis.org.uk ; www.citizensadvice.org.uk ; www.shelter.org.uk ; www.cih.org
Crisis is the national charity for single homeless people. We are dedicated to ending homelessness by delivering life-changing services and campaigning for change. Our innovative education, employment, housing and well-being services address individual needs and help people to transform their lives. We are determined campaigners, working to prevent people from becoming homeless and advocating solutions informed by research and our direct experience. We have ambitious plans for the future and are committed to help more people in more places across the UK. We know we won't end homelessness overnight or on our own. But we take a lead, collaborate with others and, together, make change happen. For more, see www.crisis.org.uk
The Citizens Advice service is a network of independent charities that helps people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing free, independent, confidential, and impartial information and advice, and by influencing policymakers. Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at around 3,200 service outlets across England and Wales. Last year (2007/08) they dealt with 5.54 million problems of all kinds. For more information see www.citizensadvice.org.uk and www.adviceguide.org.uk Volunteer hotline 08451 264264 (local rate)
Shelter helps 170,000 people a year fight for their rights, get back on their feet, and find and keep a home. We also tackle the root causes of Britain's housing crisis by campaigning for new laws, policies and solutions. Further information at www.shelter.org.uk
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) is the professional body for people involved in housing and communities. We are a registered charity and not-for-profit organisation. We have a diverse and growing membership of over 22,000 - both in the public and private sectors - living and working in over 20 countries on five continents across the world. Our members work for local authorities, housing associations, Arms Length Management Organisations, Government bodies, educational establishments and the private sector. Many tenants and residents are also members. We exist to maximise the contribution that housing professionals make to the wellbeing of communities. Further information is available at: www.cih.org
