The government has extended the ban on bailiff evictions for renters for a further six weeks.
The repossessions ban was due to expire on Monday 11 January, but renters will instead be protected until 21 February.
Housing secretary Robert Jenrick said the ban would protect “the most vulnerable renters”. Courts will continue to prioritise cases of antisocial behaviour, illegal occupation and domestic abuse in the social sector.
This move follows calls from campaigning groups, metro mayors and charities fearing a surge of evictions as households struggle with reduced income and rising arrears.
The government will launch a mediation pilot for landlords and renters who face court procedures and potential evictions from next month. The process will aim to help parties reach a mutual agreement over disputes, without the need for formal hearings.
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “The repossessions ban is a sticking plaster that will ultimately lead to more people losing their homes. It means tenants’ debts will continue to mount to the point where they have no hope of paying them off, leading eventually to them having to leave their home.
“Instead, the government should recognise the crisis facing many tenants and take immediate action to enable them to pay their debts, as is happening in Scotland and Wales. The objective should be to sustain tenancies in the long term and not just the short term.”
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