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100,000 Renters In England ‘Risk Eviction’ When Universal Credit Is Cut

100,000 renters in England ‘risk eviction’ when universal credit is cut

Housing charity Crisis says £20-a-week reduction could be final blow for struggling households

At least 100,000 renting households will be placed at risk of eviction when the government’s planned £20-a-week cut to universal credit comes into effect next week, the housing charity Crisis has warned.

The proportion of private renters relying on benefits in England has surged to around one in three since the start of the pandemic, leaving thousands at risk of homelessness due to arrears if the uplift to UC is removed by ministers as planned.

The footballer Marcus Rashford is among those calling for its retention, citing fears about child hunger.

The squeeze on renters is being compounded by the final lifting of the emergency restrictions on evictions during the pandemic in England and the end of the furlough scheme on Friday.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have extended more liberal measures on evictions until next year.

“For many struggling renters this cut could be the final blow that forces them from their homes,” said Jon Sparkes, the chief executive of Crisis. “The UK government must change course and keep the £20 uplift so that people don’t needlessly lose their homes this winter and we have a fighting chance at recovery. The UK government assured people they would not lose their home because of the crisis; we must not fail them now.”

The charity predicts evicted households who seek help from local councils with emergency housing will end up costing the public purse more.

With a third of renters relying on benefits following the pandemic, the impact could be widespread.

The number of private renters relying on UC or housing benefit for rent surged to almost 2 million in May 2021 with 560,000 renters joining benefits queues since February 2020, according to analysis by the housing charity Shelter of Department of Work and Pensions figures.

The biggest increases were seen in the most expensive areas of London and the south-east, but other hotspots where the majority of renters rely on benefits include Blackpool, Middlesbrough, Great Yarmouth and Torbay.

Dan Wilson Craw, the director of the Generation Rent campaign group, said the UC cut would have a twin effect on renters, pushing some into arrears that would lead to eviction and make it harder for them to pass affordability checks to get a new home. He said about half of private renters who rely on local housing allowance benefits already do not get enough to cover their rent and have to top it up.

“Without the uplift, and with the end of furlough … we will see another surge in eviction notices served in the run-up to Christmas,” he said. “There’s still time for the government to step in with a Covid rent debt fund to clear renters’ arrears and keep people in their homes.”

From 1 October, the notice periods for anyone served a section 21 “no fault” eviction notice in England will have two rather than four months’ notice to find a new home. For tenants in arrears, the notice period for anyone owing less than four months’ rent was cut from four to two months and for anyone with longer arrears to four weeks.

A government spokesperson said the UC uplift was always temporary and “designed to help people through the toughest stages of the pandemic.”

“Universal credit will continue to provide vital support for those both in and out of work and we will deliver a fairer and more effective rental market that works for both tenants and landlords,” they said, adding the government is spending £750m to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over 2021-22 and will publish a white paper on renting including the abolition of “no fault” evictions in due course.

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AGF, Fagbemi takes over casefile of #Endbadgovernance protesters from police

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi has asked the Nigeria Police to transfer the casefile of the 76 Endbadgovernance protesters who were arraigned for treason.

Fagbemi disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

This comes after the #Endbadgovernance protesters, described as minors, were arraigned and later granted N10 million bail each, while the matter was adjourned till January 2025.

Reacting, the AGF said the case would be taken over by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) under the Office of AGF from today, Saturday, 2nd November, 2024.

He said he has directed that the DPPF commence the process for the consideration of the court to bring the adjournment date forward than the January next date.

Fagbemi added that his move on the matter was necessary to make him make an informed decision.

“It has just come to my notice that the police have arraigned those arrested in connection with the Endbadgovernance violent protest in court for various offences, including treason.

“There are some issues my office will need to look into regarding the matter to enable me to take an informed decision.

“I am aware that the court has remanded the defendants in detention centres and adjourned the case to January.

“It is not within my power to vary the order of the court remanding the defendants in detention centres and adjourning the case to January.

“I have, however, directed the Nigeria Police to transfer the casefile to my office and hand over the same to the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) tomorrow, Saturday, 2nd November, 2024.

“I have further directed the DPPF to immediately put machinery in motion for consideration of the court to bring the adjournment date forward (an earlier date),” he stated.

Recall that one of the 76 minors fainted in court on Friday.

Later, it was reported that the court granted the suspects N10 million bail each.

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“Most of them are married men, none of them is a minor” – Legal counsel to the Federal Government speaks on the arraignment of 76 minors

Legal counsel to the Federal government in the arraignment of 67 minors accused of participating in the End Bad Governance protest, Rimazonte Ezekiel, has come out to dismiss claims that the accused persons are minors and should not have been arraigned.

While speaking to newsmen after their arraignment, Rimazonte said contrary to public opinion, the 67 accused are not minors but “adults and that most of them are married.”

“These boys that we brought to court today, all of them are adults. Most of them are married men, None of them is a minor, Some of them are university graduates.
” The small small kids you are seeing here, they came with some of their parents to greet their loved ones.

“They are not the real suspects standing trial in his case. These boys were arrested in Kaduna and Zaria, Imagine the level we have found ourselves now.

” Do you know how much it cost us to be at this level of democracy in this country? These young boys are trying to destabilize Nigeria using the Russian flags and other countries, calling on the military to remove our President. Is it fair?”

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Oyebanji attributes leadership style to Mother’s lessons in humility, love

….as mother’s foundation donates multipurpose hall to church

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji has attributed his approach to leadership to the virtues of humility, contentment, and love that his late Mother instilled in him, stressing that her emphasis on simplicity and service has been a major influence in his life and career.

Governor Oyebanji, who disclosed this on Friday at Ikogosi Ekiti, while commissioning an ultra-modern multipurpose hall donated to the First Baptist Church, Ikogosi, by the Abiyamo Esther Oyebanji Foundation, a foundation in memory of the Governor’s mother.
He said the lessons learned at home have guided his approach to governance, helping him maintain perspective and empathy in his service to humanity.

According to him, his late mother was an example of true motherhood who used all she had to assist the less privileged and trained her children the right way to success.

While calling on parents to inculcate the virtues of honesty, love and empathy in their children, the Governor charged the Church and the community to make the best use of the hall as well as cultivate good maintenance culture towards ensuring the durability of the facility.

He assured the community that more development projects would be executed within the town and other towns in the state, calling for a more united front in achieving collective growth and shared prosperity.

“We are here today to give glory to God and celebrate our late Mother who lived for us. Mummy is no more, the greatest legacy to her is what we are doing today, walking the talk, the way he brought us up in humility, contentment, and in love for everybody around us.”

“We were brought up to show love to everybody, to respect people, fear God and serve him. So I am happy today that between myself and my siblings, we are able to bring this together in her memory”, the Governor said.

Also speaking at the event, the wife of the Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji who described the late Esther Abosede Oyebanji as a disciplinarian and philanthropist, said the Governor’s leadership attributes of empathy and love for the people, as well as commitment to just causes were product of his upbringing, adding that they have been part of him long before he embraced public service.

Other dignitaries and community leaders at the event included the regent of Ikogosi Ekiti, Princess Omobola Adepoju, the President of the Ekiti Baptist Convention, Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Aribasoye, Prof. (Mrs) Ojo and Dr Temiola eulogized the late matriarch of the Oyebanji dynasty and commended the initiative of the children at immortalizing her.

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