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| 'Steep rise' in tenant evictions | 'Steep rise' in tenant evictions |
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| There has been a "steep rise" over the last six months in numbers of tenants evicted after landlords defaulted on mortgages, Shelter has warned. | There has been a "steep rise" over the last six months in numbers of tenants evicted after landlords defaulted on mortgages, Shelter has warned. |
| Tenants can get just days' notice to leave their home, says the charity, which wants ministers to "act quickly to give tenants far, far longer". | Tenants can get just days' notice to leave their home, says the charity, which wants ministers to "act quickly to give tenants far, far longer". |
| The government says legislation coming into force in April could entitle tenants to up to seven weeks' notice. | The government says legislation coming into force in April could entitle tenants to up to seven weeks' notice. |
| It says it is also considering reforms to give more protection to tenants. | It says it is also considering reforms to give more protection to tenants. |
| About three million homes in England and Wales are rented from private landlords. | About three million homes in England and Wales are rented from private landlords. |
| "What we're seeing already is a steep rise in the number of tenants, entirely blameless individuals, who are becoming homeless because their landlords can't pay their mortgage and their homes have been repossessed," said Shelter chief executive Adam Sampson. | "What we're seeing already is a steep rise in the number of tenants, entirely blameless individuals, who are becoming homeless because their landlords can't pay their mortgage and their homes have been repossessed," said Shelter chief executive Adam Sampson. |
| "What the government must do is to act quickly to give tenants in those circumstances far, far longer to find themselves somewhere else to live, in a housing market where housing is in desperate short supply." | "What the government must do is to act quickly to give tenants in those circumstances far, far longer to find themselves somewhere else to live, in a housing market where housing is in desperate short supply." |
| The landlord is often in denial that this is going to happen Ian PotterAssociation of Residential Letting Agents Tenants can have no idea that their landlord is in arrears and be given just days to leave, as was the case for Mike and Karen Smith last year. | The landlord is often in denial that this is going to happen Ian PotterAssociation of Residential Letting Agents Tenants can have no idea that their landlord is in arrears and be given just days to leave, as was the case for Mike and Karen Smith last year. |
| "We really liked living there. We had friends there and we didn't want to move," they said. | "We really liked living there. We had friends there and we didn't want to move," they said. |
| "We literally spent four days on the internet, ringing up and walking around trying to find somewhere to rent. And trying to do that all - and pack - it was difficult." | "We literally spent four days on the internet, ringing up and walking around trying to find somewhere to rent. And trying to do that all - and pack - it was difficult." |
| The length of warning can depend on the type of mortgage held by the landlord - if it is not a buy-to-let mortgage, the lender might not even know the property has been rented out. | |
| Ian Potter, of the Association of Residential Letting Agents, said: "The landlord is often in denial that this is going to happen and once the court proceedings take place and he's lost his property, he's lost interest and therefore doesn't bother to tell the tenant." | Ian Potter, of the Association of Residential Letting Agents, said: "The landlord is often in denial that this is going to happen and once the court proceedings take place and he's lost his property, he's lost interest and therefore doesn't bother to tell the tenant." |
| Advice | Advice |
| The government is considering a major overhaul of the sector, although it will not say when this might happen. | The government is considering a major overhaul of the sector, although it will not say when this might happen. |
| "What we are trying to do is to get rid of the unfairness," said housing minister Iain Wright. | "What we are trying to do is to get rid of the unfairness," said housing minister Iain Wright. |
| "If a tenant is up-to-date with rent and if they're not in arrears, it's unfair that they have their home taken away from them. | "If a tenant is up-to-date with rent and if they're not in arrears, it's unfair that they have their home taken away from them. |
| "We're trying to work with Shelter and others to protect the tenant as much as possible." | "We're trying to work with Shelter and others to protect the tenant as much as possible." |
| Current advice to tenants is not to ignore post addressed to the occupier, which could contain a valuable warning. | Current advice to tenants is not to ignore post addressed to the occupier, which could contain a valuable warning. |