The number of tenants evicted by their landlords is at a record high, new figures from the Ministry of Justice reveal, with experts blaming the spike in repossessions on benefit cuts and the growing trend of “revenge evictions”.
More than 11,000 tenants were evicted in just three months between June and September this year – an 11 per cent increase on the previous quarter and the highest number since records began in 2000. In the year to September 2014, more than 40,000 households were evicted – a rise of 11.7 per cent on the previous 12 months.
Ben Reeve-Lewis, a tenancy officer in Lewisham, said in expensive areas of London and southern England benefit caps had left tenants out of pocket with no way to pay their rent, leading landlords to seek eviction through the courts. “The benefit cap left some people short of the rent by £300-400 a month,” he said.
Surge in evictions as poorest tenants hit by new benefit cap
More than 11,000 tenants were evicted in just three months between June and September this year – an 11 per cent increase on the previous quarter and the highest number since records began in 2000. In the year to September 2014, more than 40,000 households were evicted – a rise of 11.7 per cent on the previous 12 months.
Ben Reeve-Lewis, a tenancy officer in Lewisham, said in expensive areas of London and southern England benefit caps had left tenants out of pocket with no way to pay their rent, leading landlords to seek eviction through the courts. “The benefit cap left some people short of the rent by £300-400 a month,” he said.
Surge in evictions as poorest tenants hit by new benefit cap