The housing crisis continues to grow as more than 29,000 eviction claims leave tens of thousands at risk of losing their homes.
A warning from the Law Society comes as the Ministry of Justice publishes new figures on repossession and eviction claims from April to June 2024.
The statistics show that mortgage possession claims increased by 34 per cent, compared to the same quarter last year. Landlord possession claims increased by nine per cent and possession orders by 15 per cent.
Law Society of England and Wales president Nick Emmerson said:
“The scale of our housing crisis is staggering. The rising number of eviction claims in England and Wales means that more people are at risk of being made homeless.
“Many individuals and families struggle with rent and mortgage payments as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite.
“When threatened with eviction or repossession, legal aid is often the only hope a family or individual has to keep their home. Unfortunately, legal aid has become increasingly unavailable, as 25 million people do not have a local legal aid provider for housing advice.**
“Without legal aid, many families do not have a fair chance in court. Some will be forced into temporary accommodation, while others will be left on the street.
“It is unacceptable that legal aid remains elusive for those who need it most. While we welcome Labour’s upcoming Renters Rights Bill, the UK government must use the legislation to expand access to housing legal aid and ensure the sector is sustainable.
“We urge the government to commit to wider reforms to the rental market, including the funding of legal aid. We also ask the government to adhere to their pledge to ban ‘no-fault’ evictions with immediate effect.”
