Landlords and tenants can often avoid evictions after rent increases, but are unaware of how to address the situation.

That’s the view of housing support worker Denzel Matsaudza (main pic), CEO at Social Housing Options, who works on eviction cases and often liaises with letting agents.

He says over 69% of tenants on Universal Credit are choosing between ‘heating and eating’ because they’re struggling to afford the rent.

And many landlords and letting agents are experiencing tenants in at least one month of rent arrears.

Lack of awareness

But they are not aware of the local council support available to tenants. So, due to a lack of awareness, families are being made homeless, he says.

Matsaudza recently posted on LinkedIn about how he supported a family, and he received 1,500 likes, 200 comments and 140 re-posts.

The case involved a family of four living in a two-bed flat in the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, where the landlord increased the rent by £700 per month.

He tells me he’s had sleepless nights drowned with anxiety.”

“After speaking with the landlord he shows me his mortgage statement… his bills had almost doubled,” says Matsaudza.

“He tells me he’s had sleepless nights drowned with anxiety on how he’s going to keep up with mortgage-payments.”

Resolved the case

This is how Matsaudza resolved the case:

1. Assessed the family’s benefits, and they were eligible for a £300 per month uplift from Universal Credit.
2. Negotiated with their local council who contributed a further £200 per month towards the rent.
3. Finally, made an application for a Discretionary Housing Payment to make up the balance.

“It’s a message of hope meant to show that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and eviction is not the only option.

“The tenants were able to renew their contract for a further 24 months and homelessness was prevented,” he says.

More on evictions