A new fund of £65 million has been announced in England, to rival those already in place in Scotland and Wales, to support low-income tenants at risk of eviction during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Department for Levelling Up has announced a new fund of £65 million to support vulnerable renters struggling to pay their rent in England. Councils will be able to allocate funds throughout the winter months to low income earners on a case by case basis, to "prevent homelessness and support families get back on their feet".
Any low income households at the risk of eviction should contact their local councils to access this new support, which is an extension of the protection offered to tenants during the pandemic, including a temporary ban on evictions and the £400 billion package of support which included the furlough scheme.
The new fund in England sits alongside those already in place in Scotland and Wales, where funds of £10 million in each nation have been created to help share grants with those tenants "worst affected by pandemic to avoid eviction".
Low income households also have access to further funding to support them through the winter months while the energy crisis is ongoing, including the warm home discount scheme, cold weather payments, and the new Household Support Fund which aims to help households cover the cost of essentials.
The Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing, Eddie Hughes MP, has said that "We have taken action throughout the pandemic to support the most vulnerable families, and it is vital we continue to provide support as we enter the winter months. This new funding will support families that are struggling and help to get them back on their feet as we begin to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic."
ARLA Propertymark has responded and thanked the government for this show of support for the rental sector in England. "This is a great relief for agents, landlords and tenants alike and we are very grateful for Mr Gove and his department for listening to Propertymark and others and taking steps which show the understanding of the value of the private rented sector,” says Maxine Fothergill, President of the professional and regulatory body for letting agents.
This article is intended as a guide only and does not constitute legal advice. For more information visit gov.uk.
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