Call for eviction ban to be extended as 171 families in Milton Keynes face homelessness

According to official statistics, 304 households in Milton Keynes are assessed as being threatened with homelessness, with another 305 assessed as homeless from January to March 2020.

Some 150 of households who were homeless or threatened with homelessness cited the end of a private rented tenancy as the reason for losing their last settled home.

The government introduced a ban on landlords evicting tenants during lockdown, but this ban is due to be the ban lifted on August 23.

Lib Dems fear a second surge of coronavirus could lead to a "devastating surge" in homelessness.

Cllr Jenni Ferrans, chair of Milton Keynes Council’s Community and Housing Committee, said: “Families in Milton Keynes must be protected from homelessness. The council is already struggling to house the nearly 900 homeless families we have. There is simply nowhere to put a massive new influx. But it seems that the Conservatives are happy to leave people to fend for themselves at a time when jobs are at risk and people are struggling."

She added: “People deserve better. These figures are yet further proof the Government must rethink its heartless decision to resume evictions from 23 August.

“171 families in the private rented sector were already being threatened with homelessness earlier this year. There will be more by now. And now they face losing their homes in the middle of a pandemic.

“Ministers must act now to stop a devastating surge in homelessness sweeping across the country as we face a potential second wave.”