Multiple more property repossession claims in Chichester made in lead up to Christmas

Multiple more claims to evict people from homes in Chichester were made in the final months of last year than in 2021, new figures show.

Housing charity Shelter said renters cannot wait any longer for government action – particularly on Section 21 no-fault evictions, which allow landlords to remove tenants without a reason – as more and more people are being forced from their homes.

Ministry of Justice data shows 22 claims to repossess property in Chichester were lodged by landlords from October to December last year.

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It means there were four more claims in the latest quarter than over the same period in 2021, when 18 were submitted.

Despite this rise, there were still fewer bids to remove people from their homes than in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic – 52 claims were lodged between October and December that year.

Across England and Wales, nearly 23,600 possession claims were made in a bid to evict people in the final months of 2022 – up significantly from 17,000 the same time the year before.

However, it was still down from the final quarter of 2019, when 31,700 claims were made.

Polly Neate, chief xxecutive of Shelter, said every eviction notice brings "fear and uncertainty" and that a lack of social homes has resulted in heightened demand for “overpriced and unstable" private rentals.

Ms Neate added: "Every day we hear from desperate families who have been served with no-fault eviction notices for daring to complain about poor conditions, or because their landlord wants to cash in on rising rents.

“The government has long promised it would scrap Section 21. Renters can’t wait any longer, the Renters’ Reform Bill is ready to go - it’s time the government stopped stalling and changed the law.”

In the final quarter of 2022, over 1,900 households were evicted by bailiffs via Section 21 proceedings –more than double the790 from the same period in 2021.

The figures show in the latest period, tenants were evicted from their homes in Chichester on five occasions – putting them among the 5,400 tenant evictions across England and Wales.

Of them, three evictions in the area were carried out by court ordered bailiffs as a result of Section 21 proceedings.

A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson said they recognise both renters and homeowners are struggling with the cost of living.

They added: “Ensuring a fair deal for renters remains a priority for the government. We will deliver our commitment to abolish section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions as soon as we can in this Parliament – protecting 1.3 million families – and have provided £366 million for local councils to help prevent evictions and provide temporary accommodation.