More than 4,000 households living in the private sector were threatened with homelessness between July and September last year – an increase of almost 60 per cent from the same quarter the previous year.
The number of households accepted as owed a ‘main homelessness duty’ by their councils has also risen, reflecting an increase in households with children owed a relief duty.
Cllr David Renard, the LGA’s Housing Spokesperson, said: “Every instance of homelessness is a tragedy and councils work hard to prevent it from happening in the first place, as well as support those affected.
“The end to the eviction ban brought in to protect tenants during the pandemic has undoubtedly contributed to this rise in households threatened with homelessness from the private sector, and councils are eager to work with government on a plan to safeguard tenants.
“The Government should also bring forward its pledge to end ‘no fault’ evictions in their entirety.
“The rise in families who are owed a main duty by their councils puts even more pressure on social housing waiting lists, which further supports our call for giving councils the powers and resources to build 100,000 social homes for rent a year.
“We also want to work with government on the urgent implementation of a cross-government homelessness prevention strategy, associated with the multi-year homelessness funding for councils that has been announced.”
