THE ban on evictions was lifted on May 31 as 400,000 people in rent arrears potentially face losing their homes. 

According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, an organisation which specialises in social change, 400,000 renting households have either been served an eviction notice or have been told they may face eviction. 

In the same report, the foundation claimed that over 1m renters worry about being evicted in the next three months. 

Jo Kitching, director of homeless charity Doorway, told the Gazette that while there was a ban in place it was still possible for landlords to evict tenants for reasons such as anti-social behaviour. 

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“You could still give notice,” she said. “You just had to give six months rather than four weeks.”

Mrs Kitching said some renters had not been properly protected from eviction as the rules around the ban were murky – and estate agents had not been sharing the rules with landlords. 

“Anybody who has ever rented a property knows you’re not every 100 per cent certain in your home,” she said. 

“There’s always the unknown. And in these times you don’t know what your prospects are.”

The charity director said it would take a few weeks to see the true impact of the ban lifting – as landlords will likely not issue eviction notices right away.

The danger, Mrs Kitching continued, is that if a tenant is evicted for rent arrears it will be harder to find new housing with both the council and new landlords. 

If you or anyone you know is concerned about the prospect of facing eviction, the best option is to contact Wiltshire Council’s housing options team. 

However, it is very difficult, Mrs Kitching said, to make arrangements until the worst case scenario has happened. 

The council says it is working with “a number of households that have been served notice over the last year”.

Robert Yuill, who holds the housing portfolio said: “Our role is to prevent homelessness, so we try to get to the core of why notice was served and look for solutions. 

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“We are often successful but there are some landlords that will still want their property back, to sell for example.

“In those cases where prevention isn’t a realistic option, we have dedicated officers working to help find alternative accommodation in the private rented sector.”

Stonecircle, a housing company owned by the council, is also being used to find new homes for those in need. 

“Our Housing Options Team are well placed to manage any additional uplift in households threatened with homelessness that the lifting of the ban may bring,” Cllr Yuill added. 

Wiltshire Council’s housing options team can be reached on: 

South team: 01722 434233

West team: 01225 718005

North team: 01249 706666

For help and support via Doorway, please click here.

We would like to hear from those who have been affected by the eviction ban ending.

Please contact matthew.mclaughlin@newsquest.co.uk