In 4 weeks from now the government eviction freeze for tenants comes to an end. Hector Steenbergen from ACORN Swindon warns that agents and corporate landlords could then send a flood of section 21 eviction notices to anyone who has been unable to pay the rent during the COVID crisis.
“Tenants need to do all they can to access support now if they are unable to pay their rent” he says. “ACORN can help with template letters and referrals for private tenants who do not have so many support options as social renters. There is more information on our website at acorntheunion.org.uk/housingishealth/ .
“ACORN is a community union that anyone can join, and welcomes enquiries from anyone with housing or other community issues. It so far has branches in 19 cities across the UK, with Swindon being one of the newest.
“We are also lobbying government to permanently end the flawed ‘section 21’ no-fault eviction clause in the Housing Act, which is frequently used to force unjustified and unaffordable rent hikes on tenants under threat of eviction, and to extend the moratorium on evictions due to rent debt built up during the COVID crisis.”
Chair Clair O’Connor, a mother who lives in Stratton, says “I helped start ACORN in Swindon because people struggling with rent and other problems in the community should not feel alone. During the COVID crisis, ACORN is taking action in 19 cities in support of its Housing Is Health campaign. Vulnerable people should not have to work in unsafe conditions to pay the rent, or be evicted because their job has ended through no fault of their own.
“Over the last six years ACORN has won campaigns worth tens of millions of pounds and has made national news as it has taken action against slum landlords, discriminatory bank policies and cuts to public services.”
Hector says “We are also calling on the council to formally support our calls to government on section 21 evictions, a leading cause of homeless, and extend the moratorium on COVID evictions. Otherwise we will see a surge in homelessness in Swindon due to the crisis that the council will have to deal with.
“Nobody wants people out on the street because of this pandemic – so we also hope the council will join us in publicly calling on landlords not to evict people during the outbreak.”
Some ACORN members staged small socially-distanced demos today in Swindon and many other UK cities to highlight the issues. ACORN Swindon is on social media at facebook.com/ACORNSwindon/ and twitter.com/AcornSwindon and can be contacted by email at swindon@acorncommunities.org.uk or by calling their secretary on 07952 544394.
