Rise in number of Bolton tenants evicted by landlords

New figures from the Ministry of Justice show 21 rental households in Bolton were evicted in the three months to June - up from eight during the same period last year, which was largely covered by a nationwide ban on bailiff evictions.

However, these figures remain below pre-pandemic levels where there were 27 landlord repossessions in Bolton in the three months to June 2019.

The figures show total claims by private and social landlords for repossession have also risen significantly – 18,200 were submitted in the latest three months, more than double the 7,000 claims made in the same period last year.

They included 87 in Bolton – up from 28 the year before.

Richard Wilkinson, CEO of Citizens Advice Bury and Bolton said: “Citizens Advice Bury and Bolton operate a specialist housing legal advice service that can provide advice and assistance for people faced with eviction. 

Richard Wilkinson, CEO of Citizens Advice Bury and Bolton

“We have also seen a frightening 250 per cent increase in the number of clients approaching us who are at risk of losing their homes through private and social housing landlords seeking possession through the courts between April and June 2022 compared to the previous quarter.

“This is of course part of the wider cost of living emergency which over the winter will threaten many people's access to warmth, food, and shelter.

“We are therefore calling on the government to enact legislation to put a ring of legal protection around the people of Bury and Bolton to protect our housing, our access to energy and affordability of food until the emergency passes, rather like as happened in the pandemic period.

“People who find themselves at risk of eviction should seek specialist independent quality assured housing legal advice by either contacting us on 0808 278 7804 between 10am and 4pm on weekdays, on our out-of-hours line between 6pm and 9pm, seven days a week, by calling or SMS to 0161 850 5053. Or visit our website https://www.cabb.org.uk.”

In response to this, charities across the UK have warned that many tenants are facing uncertain financial situations as living costs soar, with action group Generation Rent saying "people face a devastating choice between paying rent, heating their home and putting food on the table".

Across England and Wales, 4,900 landlord repossessions took place between April and June, more than three times as many as the same period a year earlier, when there were 1,582.

Alicia Kennedy, director of Generation Rent, said the rise is a result of protections brought in during the coronavirus pandemic coming to an end and added that renters who have not received enough support are now losing their homes.

She said: "Alongside a further package of financial support, the Government must freeze rents and protect renters from eviction if they're struggling to stay on top of rent."

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Polly Neate, chief executive of housing charity Shelter, said the figures paint a "grim picture" as households struggle to keep their heads above water during the cost-of-living crisis, adding: "Whoever becomes the next Prime Minister needs to get a grip and put ending the housing emergency at the top of their to-do list."

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said repossessions are "significantly below pre-pandemic levels".

A Government spokesperson said it is supporting people facing the pressures of rising costs through a £37 billion package, including a £1,200 payment for the most vulnerable households.

The spokesperson added that the Renters' Reform Bill will protect tenants by abolishing no-fault evictions and allows tenants to challenge "poor practice, poor housing standards and unjustified rent increases".

Homelessness charity Crisis said the Government "must open its eyes to the looming crisis facing renters" and urged the new Prime Minister to commit to introducing the Renters Reform Bill to protect renters from no-fault evictions, rising rent prices and frozen housing benefits.

Kiran Ramchandani, director of policy and external affairs at the charity, said: "Only this action will ensure we don’t see thousands more pushed into homelessness in the difficult months to come."