The Local Government Association has published a six-point plan which it says is needed to protect vulnerable households who could lose their homes after the ending of the ban on bailiff evictions on 31 May, and to tackle homelessness in the long-term. The LGA is calling for a package of measures including:

• Bringing forward the government’s pledge to end ‘no fault evictions’;
• Improving protection through the welfare system, including maintaining the £20 per week increase in Universal Credit and maintaining Local Housing Allowance rates at the lowest third of market rents;
• An immediate review of the impact of the overall benefits cap in the context of the pandemic;
• Ensuring that councils have enough resources to support households at risk of homelessness – this includes restoration of local welfare funding to at least £250 million a year and a review of the Discretionary Housing Payment scheme;
• Powers for councils to acquire empty homes, including making it easier to use Compulsory Purchase Order powers;
• Setting out plans to deliver a step-change in social housing – the LGA is calling for 100,000 social homes for rent to be delivered every year.

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