Shelter wants help for tenants of repossessed landlords

The housing charity Shelter says there has been a ‘steep rise’ in the last six months of tenants being evicted after their landlords defaulted on mortgages. Shelter fears there will be more such cases, with buy-to-let repossessions on the rise.

“What we’re seeing already is a steep rise in the number of tenants, entirely blameless individuals, who are becoming homeless because their landlords can’t pay their mortgage and their homes have been repossessed,” said Shelter chief executive Adam Sampson.

The charity is calling for Government action to ensure that tenants are at the least given adequate notice, rather than simply being given a few days to get out. Shelter wants the Government to act quickly to give tenants “far, far longer” to find themselves somewhere else to live.

Housing minister Iain Wright said: “If a tenant is up-to-date with rent and if they’re not in arrears, it’s unfair that they have their home taken away from them. We’re trying to work with Shelter and others to protect the tenant as much as possible.”

The Association of Residential Letting Agents has pointed out that an increasing number of lenders are prepared to continue existing tenancy arrangements and to accept rent, rather than sell buy-to-let properties as repossessions.

Estate Agent Today would be interested to hear from agents who are continuing to manage properties where the lender has taken back possession and where the tenants remain in situ. Please email rosalind.renshaw@estateagenttoday.co.uk