Council’s Eviction Advice Causes Tenant Distress, Charity Reports

A charity has asserted that the guidance provided by a council to families facing eviction, which recommends staying in their homes—at times until bailiffs are engaged—is inflicting “psychological distress” upon tenants and negatively affecting their wellbeing. Kate Bradley from the Greater Manchester Law Centre stated, “The local authority is saying ‘stay put’ – and they don’t know whether they’ll have anywhere to go.” Charu Agrawal, a tenant, reported that the instruction to remain in her Rusholme residence for nine months following the receipt of an eviction notice made her feel “very, very anxious.” Joanna Midgley, the Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, explained that the council’s interventions are “based on when people are likely to become homeless” due to the “scarce supply” of available homes. Ms. Agrawal, who resides with her 15-year-old son, secured an alternative rental property in Levenshulme just one week prior to the date she would have been compelled to vacate her previous home. She informed BBC Radio Manchester that the period of uncertainty resulted in sleepless nights and negatively impacted her mental health. She further stated that she had first reached out to the council in January, soon after receiving a no-fault eviction notice from her landlord. The council acknowledged her status as threatened with homelessness but recommended she not vacate the premises, even after her landlord initiated court proceedings and bailiffs were instructed to evict her on 9 December, as she recounted to the BBC. Ms. Agrawal commented, “It was a very confusing situation. I couldn’t apply for jobs, I couldn’t do anything. I was kept in the dark and asked to wait.” She expressed that she had no knowledge of where a new home would be provided and felt compelled to accept any accommodation that was eventually presented. Ms. Midgley stated that the council generally begins its search for new residences for individuals facing ‘no-fault’ evictions “as soon as they approached us for assistance.” The extensive social housing waiting list frequently results in tenants being placed in temporary accommodation. Nevertheless, Ms. Midgley indicated that the housing sector was experiencing “so much pressure,” necessitating the council to prioritize housing placements according to “when people were likely to become homeless.” She affirmed, “This is about helping as many people as possible at the optimum time.” The council is currently aware of over 300 households in Manchester engaged in a no-fault eviction process, in addition to 2,743 households already residing in temporary accommodation while awaiting permanent housing. The projected expenditure for temporary accommodation supplied by the council is expected to decrease this year to £18.4 million, down from £23.4 million in the 2023-2024 fiscal year. A council spokesman attributed this reduction to a decrease in the number of families housed in B&Bs and an increase in individuals staying with friends and family. However, the Greater Manchester Law Centre, which provides legal aid to individuals who might otherwise be unable to afford legal representation, has voiced apprehension regarding a potential connection between the council’s eviction strategy and its objective to reduce costs. Ms. Bradley, a caseworker, commented: “[Tenants] know the cliff edge is coming, but the local authority is saying ‘stay put’ – and they don’t know whether they’ll have anywhere to go on that day.” She added, “You have forced a crisis in their life [and] put people in psychological distress.” She concluded, “I don’t think you can overstate how bad that is for the wellbeing of tenants and their families.” Information on how to access BBC Radio Manchester content and contact BBC Manchester is available on various platforms, including Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted via email to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk or by Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Copyright for this content is held by BBC, 2024. All rights are reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites and provides information regarding its policy on external linking.