Generation Rent calls on government to introduce £750 million Coronavirus Home Retention Scheme

'It’s time for the government to end the rent debt crisis and make sure that no home is at risk', says campaign group

The government should introduce a £750 million Coronavirus Home Retention Scheme, the campaign group for private renters, Generation Rent, has said.

In a new report, End the rent debt crisis, Generation Rent highlights that more than half a million households are currently in rent arrears, and says that the debt crisis is 'likely to get worse before it gets better', with 1.2 million people at risk of losing their jobs as the Coronavirus Job Retentions Scheme is wound down and the economy heads into recession.

As a result, the campaign group calls on the government to ensure that no renter is at risk of homelessness as a result of the economic impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) by -

• amending the definition of ‘rent legally due’ under Ground 8 of Schedule 2 of the Housing Act 1988 and Schedule 15 case 1 of the Rent Act 1977  to ensure that rent arrears arising from the pandemic cannot be used as grounds for eviction;
• ensuring that the benefits system covers housing costs through restoring local housing allowance to the median rent, removing the benefit cap, expanding eligibility to cover students and those with savings over the current capital limits, and scrapping the 'no recourse to public funds' condition.; and
• introducing a new Coronavirus Home Retention Scheme which would make £750 million of support available to clear renters' debts and allow landlords to claim discretionary payments to cover up to 80 per cent of lost income.

Launching its new report, Generation Rent said today -

'A secure home provides the infrastructure necessary for those affected by coronavirus to get back on their feet. At a time of great uncertainty, renters need to know that they will be able to keep a roof over their head. Our package of measures would ensure that debts are cleared and renters’ livelihoods recover from this crisis. Renters should not be expected to shoulder the burden of this crisis while landlords’ incomes are protected in full. It’s time for the government to end the rent debt crisis and make sure that no home is at risk.'

For more information, including a link to the report, see The Government has protected jobs, now it’s time to protect homes from generationrent.org