UK: ‘Record number of tenants’ being thrown out after government refuses to backdate evictions ban

An evictions firm says it is taking on extra staff to kick out “a record number of tenants” – after protests that Boris Johnson broke his promise of a ban.

Labour said the revelation proved the coronavirus legislation passed – which fails to stop notices being sent out and leaves up to 20,000 renters at risk of losing their homes, because it is not backdated – is woefully inadequate.

Instead, a bar on court proceedings only kicks in now, and landlords can still inform tenants of an intention to evict them after late June, forcing many to prepare to move out. A whistleblowing email from a property management company, seen by The Independent, appears to lay bare how the emergency law is failing to stem evictions.