Tenants face repossession threat
Adam Hewitt • Published 26 Feb 2009 10:00
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TENANTS in nearly 1,000 homes across Reading could face eviction with just a few days' notice because their landlords cannot pay the mortgage.
Housing charity Shelter says it is a growing problem, especially in towns like Reading with a high proportion of rented housing and buy-to-let landlords. Its shocking figures show nearly 5% of homeowners expect to be repossessed in the next six months - which would be nearly 900 of Reading's 17,762 rental properties.
Borough council spokeswoman Sarah Bishton said: "Over the past six months, there has been an increase in the number of people seeking assistance from the council because their property is being repossessed from their landlord.
"Most tenants only become aware when given a court order to leave their home."
Reading's housing scrutiny panel chairwoman, Lib Dem Cllr Daisy Benson, said: "I'm very concerned about the impact that this crisis this could have on people renting locally and I have written to the council's chief executive to ask what can be done to support tenants who may be at serious risk of eviction through no fault of their own."
The town centre and areas near the universities have the most rented housing, with 3,263 such properties in Abbey ward, 1,677 in Redlands and 1,849 in Katesgrove, according to council figures.
Shelter's chief executive Adam Sampson said: "The shadow of repossession is no longer just cast over homeowners, but also thousands of innocent renters who have no idea how close they are to eviction. Tenants, despite paying rent on time, can find themselves with very few rights and the first they even know about it is when the bailiffs start banging on the door."
Ms Bishton said: "The council's housing advice team has successfully linked households into alternative private rented accommodation through the council's Deposit Guarantee Scheme and this has helped prevent homelessness."
Under the scheme landlords accept a council guarantee to cover the cost of any loss or damage to the property instead of a cash deposit. The guarantee lasts for up to two years while the tenant saves towards their own deposit.
Changes to the law mean that from April tenants will get five days' notice of any court hearing if their landlord faces repossession, rather than just a bailiffs' warrant.
Have you been affected by your landlord's mortgage difficulties? Call the newsdesk on 0118 963 3152.
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 26 Feb 09
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