London renters 'face highest eviction risk in England'

To let: Renters face a high risk of eviction in the capital
Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA
Mark Chandler15 June 2016

London renters are at the highest risk of eviction in the country with nine of the top 10 "home threat hotspots" located in the capital, a charity says.

Shelter, whose figures include private and social renters, named Enfield people as being at highest risk, with one in 23 tenants there under threat of eviction in the last year.

Barking and Dagenham residents were at a similar risk, while in Havering and Croydon, the figure was one in 27.

Its analysis of figures from the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) found more than 148,000 renting households in England were put at risk of losing their home between April 2015 and March this year.

The MOJ figures record possession claims, which are the first stage in a court process which can ultimately end with the loss of a home.

Ealing, Brent, Hillingdon, Bexley and Newham also featured in Shelter's top 10, with Luton being the only area on the list outside the capital.

Home threat hotspots

1. Enfield: 1 in 23

2. Barking and Dagenham: 1 in 23

3. Havering: 1 in 27

4. Croydon: 1 in 27

5. Ealing: 1 in 28

6. Luton: 1 in 28

7. Brent: 1 in 29

8. Hillingdon: 1 in 29

9. Bexley: 1 in 29

10. Newham: 1 in 30

In all, London boroughs made up 16 of the 20 areas where renters faced the highest chance of eviction.

Nadeem Khan, a helpline adviser for Shelter, said: "Every day at Shelter we hear from people who are struggling to keep up with their rent, many in total desperation after the court papers land on their doormat and the threat of being evicted becomes very real."

But the Department for Communities and Local Government pointed out that many claims started in the courts will not lead to evictions.

A spokesman said: "The latest quarterly figures show that all stages of landlord repossessions have gone down compared to the same time last year.

"We've introduced measures to ensure tenants get a fair deal, are aware of their rights and are protected from retaliatory evictions.

"We've also doubled the housing budget and are investing £8 billion to build 400,000 affordable homes, including quality homes for rent."

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