photo Garry Knight/CC

photo Garry Knight/CC   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

The so-called eviction ban ended at the end of May. But a legal ban on evictions, even when enforced, did not prevent tens of thousands becoming homeless during the pandemic. Over 130,000 households in England were made homeless during the first year of the pandemic, a series of freedom of information requests by the Observer found.

Many of these households would have found themselves no longer able to stay with family or friends during the periods of lockdown, revealing the extent of ‘hidden homelessness’ or ‘sofa surfing’. Others would have come to the end of their tenancy, unable to find or afford new accommodation, or be fleeing domestic abuse.

What is needed is a re-introduction of the legal ban on evictions, but also a huge investment in the building of council homes, and a strengthening of tenants’ right to secure tenancies. (Read more: ‘Housing crisis: what now and after the pandemic?’ at socialistparty.org.uk)