The impact of COVID-19 on homelessness and the private rented sector

The pandemic has highlighted the consequences of chronic under-investment in housing, having a negative impact on thousands of citizens, including UNISON members, who are struggling with high housing costs, poor quality housing with high energy costs, overcrowding and insecurity of jobs, income and tenancy.

UNISON calls the government to:

• Suspend evictions during the pandemic, alongside support for renters/landlords
• Provide adequate funding to support and house vulnerable people to tackle homelessness
• Legislate to end Section 21 no-fault evictions by introducing permanent tenancies
• Reform the Benefit System to help more people meet housing costs, by raising local housing allowance (housing benefit) to the average rent; ending benefit caps; and ending the five-week wait in UC payments, replacing this with non-repayable grants
• Provide a financial package (grants/loans) for struggling renters to help them pay off rent arrears and allow them to stay in their homes
• Invest in new social and affordable homes which will boost economic recovery from Covid-19, create jobs and lower housing costs
• Prioritise existing and new homes that can be accessible and affordable to public service key workers