The ban on evicting tenants due to ‘bedroom tax’ arrears in Bristol should be lifted as it is unsustainable, a new report has recommended.
In March, the mayor of Bristol, George Ferguson, said the council would not evict any tenants for rent arrears as a result of the Under Occupation Charge. However, a cross-party working group has recommended this policy ends as it is financially unsustainable.
Gus Hoyt, chair of the working group and assistant mayor with responsibility for environment, neighbourhoods and council housing, said eviction would always be the last resort.
He said: ‘The conclusion of the group is that maintaining the blanket no eviction policy is unsustainable financially and potentially unlawful. In addition, the group also concluded that it would be difficult to distinguish fairly between a genuine inability to pay and a decision not to pay.
‘It was also felt to be unfair to other tenants who were not affected by the change but who also struggled to afford their rent and other bills.
'But eviction is and will remain a last resort with our tenants as we clearly want to be the best landlord we can.’
The group recommends that the local authority should work with tenants affected by the changes by relaxing the rules for tenants moving who have arrears and stepping up efforts to help those affected manage their money.
Earlier this week, a charity warned the bedroom tax could 'break up communities'.
