Coronavirus: Plans to suspend eviction ban could have ‘devastating consequences’ on health, medical bodies warn

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The government’s plans to suspend the eviction ban this weekend could have “devastating consequences” on health as coronavirus cases rise across the country, medical bodies have warned. “We have an unnecessary and shameful homelessness problem in the UK, and with a vaccination still a long way off, the government must not allow more people to slip through the cracks.” Siddhartha Mehta, a public health advocate and campaigner with health charity Medact, warned that with the country facing a second wave of infections, there “couldn’t be a worse time to lift the eviction ban”. He added: “The government says that evictions won’t be enforced in areas where there is a local lockdown in place but if it accepts that being people evicted risks worsening the pandemic, why is it lifting the evictions ban at all?” The government is being urged to extend the ban and increase the support available for people to cover their rent, as well as introducing legislation to stop renters being evicted for reasons beyond their control or when losing their home will make them destitute. “Without urgent action now, the government’s negligence will create a homelessness crisis entirely of its own making.” A spokesperson for the government said: "We’ve taken unprecedented action to support renters by banning evictions for six months, preventing people getting into financial hardship and helping businesses to pay salaries.