ZARAH Sultana, Labour MP for Coventry South, has spoken in Parliament to press for “urgent” measures for renters ahead of the end of the evictions ban on September 20.
Ms Sultana made the call yesterday (September 17) to the Leader of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg MP, highlighting that an “estimated 320,000 private renters have fallen into rent arrears during this pandemic” and that when the eviction ban ends “hundreds of thousands are at risk of eviction and tens of thousands are at risk of homelessness.”
To protect renters in Coventry, Ms Sultana urged the Government to “extend the evictions ban for at least a year, scrap no fault evictions as promised in the Tory manifesto, and cancel rent arrears.”
In response, Jacob Rees-Mogg highlighted the “generosity” of Universal Credit and Housing Benefit and said “there is a balance to be struck between landlords and tenants”.
Following her question, Ms Sultana said: “Private renters in Coventry South need a government on their side, but instead we have a government that is lifting the eviction ban just as the second wave takes hold.
“Urgent action is needed to stop tens of thousands of people being made homeless and many others from being pushed into poverty as they attempt to pay off rent arrears.
“The eviction ban must be extended, no fault evictions scrapped, arrears cancelled, and rent controls brought in to rebalance the market in favour of tenants.”
