Teignbridge homelessness has 'amber' rating

Caution over progress

The spiralling cost of living, rising rents and increasing numbers of ‘no fault’ evictions by landlords are holding back Teignbridge Council’s efforts to prevent homelessness in the district, it’s been claimed.

A report to the council’s overview and scrutiny committee reveals the difficulties the council is facing in its efforts to meet its own homelessness targets.

The committee will look at the progress the council is making on the so-called ‘Teignbridge Ten’ priorities for the local authority.

One of them is called ‘A Roof Over Our Heads’, and the report places an amber ‘caution’ label on its progress so far.

Its aim is to prevent homelessness wherever possible, but councillors will be told that current market conditions mean the target remains challenging.

The report reads: “We are below target as we have seen a sharp increase in the amount of people who have lost accommodation with friends or family members in the last quarterly period.

“We believe that this is largely as a result of concerns over the cost-of-living crisis.”

And, the report goes on: “It is increasingly more difficult to help people remain in their homes due to cost of living increases. Homes must be affordable in order to sustain them.

“We are seeing an increase of households being served Section 21 notices [of eviction] where they may or may not have rent arrears, but the rental costs have increased beyond the household’s affordability range.”

The notice allows private landlords to repossess properties without having to show their tenants have done anything wrong. The government has recently said it plans to ban Section 21 notices as part of an overhaul  of the private rental sector.

It could be 2025 before the ban becomes law.

The full list of the ‘Teignbridge Ten’ targets includes moves:

• to be a carbon neutral district
• to provide more, better, and affordable homes
• to keep the district clean
• to invest in town centres
• to provide well designed quality neighbourhoods
• to create jobs and wealth
• to improve travel options
• to provide opportunities for healthy active lifestyles
• to engage with, help and support communities
• to deliver quality, value for money and flexible services.

Apart from the housing strategy, two more have ‘caution’ flags – investing in town centres and creating jobs and wealth. The rest are on target.

The Teignbridge overview and scrutiny committee meets today.