The Government must act now to protect tenants from eviction. As part of emergency legislation for lockdown, tenants were given extra protection: this ends Sunday. The government recognized that it was an emergency then. It still is now.

Unemployment is rising, workers are on reduced hours. Families need security as they plan for the return to school. People are out of work through no fault of their own. The social security safety net is not fit for purpose. It drives people further into financial hardship.

We need security of tenure for renters. Abolish Section 21 evictions, where landlords can repossess homes even if there is no fault on the part of the tenant. Review and reform Universal Credit and housing benefit, as a priority.

Act now.

Cllr Lucy Hamilton

Weymouth Town Council