Tenant Evictions Rise 6%
Alarming Rise In UK Tenant Eviction Rates
The number of UK court orders for tenant evictions has increased by 6% compared to the first quarter of 2012.
100,400 tenants in England and Wales were in severe rent arrears – more than 8 weeks – an increase of 24% compared to 2011.
As the Private Rented Sector (PRS) continues to expand, the number of tenants facing financial stress over paying the rent is also steadily climbing.
In the first quarter of this year, 26,060 tenants faced eviction notices – 6% more than in the previous quarter, and 5% more than in the same period of 2011 of landlords who need to evict a tenant.
PRS landlords already do everything in their power to only accept tenants who can afford the rent every month, using reputable Tenant Referencing services to weed out unfavourable applicants as tenant eviction rates continue to rise.
Tenant eviction specialists and landlord service provider, Legal 4 Landlords spokesman Sim Sekhon said: “There has already been a significant increase in the number of tenants facing eviction for rent default as tenant finances become even more stretched due to the economic downturn, employment uncertainty, public sector cuts and welfare reforms, families face a choice of putting food on the table or paying the landlord the rent. That is why Legal 4 Landlords are at the forefront of developing products and services to help landlords and tenants, including Tenant Referencing and Rent Guarantee insurance for landlords. Our franchisees have dealt with a record number of Tenant Evictions this year, and so far it does not appear that this will decrease any time soon.”
Kay Boycott, director of campaigns, policy and communications at Shelter, said: “This is yet more evidence of the crushing impact that rising rents and stagnating wages are having on family finances. Shelter research found that average private rents are now unaffordable for working families in over half of England, with many paying up to half of their income each month.”