Housing Possession: Lessons From the Covid-19 Response

Project Description

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the landscape of eviction in England and Wales has changed fundamentally. Lenders, landlords and the court system have all introduced changes designed to mitigate the impact of the virus on households in an effort to assist them in keeping their homes. With all claims for eviction halted until 20 September 2020, the resumption of legal proceedings has taken place under a new system known as the 'Overall Arrangements'. These include increased opportunities for the parties to reach agreement so as to avoid the need for a substantive court hearing, thereby reducing the number of evictions and relieving pressure on the already overburdened court system. This project will collect data from occupiers threatened with eviction and legal practitioners on the frontline of eviction cases with the aim not only of assessing the effectiveness of the Overall Arrangements but identifying aspects that should be retained for the future. By learning the lessons from the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, this project will make a unique and meaningful contribution to the policy and practice of housing possession that could assist some households in their attempts to avoid losing their home.