Lib Dems call for emergency ban on no-fault evictions over Christmas as 117 families put at risk of homelessness last year

• 117 households in Bedford Borough were at risk of homelessness due to Section 21 notices in the year 2022/2023
• Lib Dems call on the government to prevent a homelessness surge this Christmas by banning no-fault evictions over the festive period

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats are calling for an emergency ban on no-fault evictions over the Christmas period, as figures show 117 families in Bedford Borough were put at risk of homelessness due to a Section 21 notice in the year 2022/2023. That equates to 1 in 5 of all those threatened with homelessness over the last year.

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats are calling on the government to enact an emergency ban on these Section 21 evictions over the festive period to prevent more families being made homeless through no fault of their own over the Christmas period.

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Adults Services Councillor Tim Caswell said “Families in Bedford Borough are facing a nightmare before Christmas. With the cost of living crisis putting intolerable pressure on family finances, a shocking number of households could find themselves without a home over the festive period through no fault of their own.

“Instead of taking urgent steps to prevent homelessness before it happens, this heartless government has kicked the ban on no fault evictions into the long grass and introduced measures to criminalise rough sleeping.

“We need to see an emergency ban on no fault evictions over the festive period and a compassionate approach to rough sleeping to make sure no family is left out in the cold this Christmas.”