PROTESTERS took to Oxford Magistrates Court to voice their concern about the Government’s eviction ban that will come to an end next month.

Despite the ban being extended for another four weeks due to the pandemic, tenants union ACORN - which organised the event on Saturday - believe this is not enough.

The union opened a branch in Oxford two months ago and wants to let residents know that it can offer help.

ALSO READ: Eviction ban extension is 'kicking a problem down the lane'

It aims to support and empower low-income communities across the country to fight for a better life.

Imogen Thomas of ACORN, who led the protest, said: "We wanted to make it clear that four weeks just isn't enough. Decisive action is what we need to see right now from the Government. Families need to know what this will mean for them in the long term.

"The Government are doing nothing to help families."

Oxford Mail:

ACORN is calling for the eviction ban to be extended for another six months and want the legislation that allows landlords to evict tenants on no grounds to be completely scrapped.

Described by Ms Thomas as 'absolutely unacceptable especially during the pandemic', Section 21 of the Housing Act 1998 allows landlords to evict renters without a reason after their fixed-term tenancy period ends.

ALSO READ: Evictions crisis is looming in Oxford, warns tenants' union

ACORN is also calling for Section 8 of the Act, which allows landlords to evict someone who has broken the terms of their tenancy, to be amended.

Ms Thomas added: "We want to draw attention to the fact that there's a huge power inbalance between landlords and tenants.

"There are a a lot of things that landlords can get away with and we're trying to address that. Tenants have power in numbers."

The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) is also not happy with the way the Government has handled the renting sector but is also sympathetic to landlords.

Ben Beadle, CEO of the NRLA, said: “An enormous amount of work has gone into finding a balance between supporting tenants who have been affected by the pandemic and preventing significant financial harm to landlords, in accordance with the Government’s promise. This announcement satisfies no-one.

“Landlords have been left powerless in exercising their legal right to deal with significant arrears unrelated to Covid-19, antisocial behaviour and extremely disruptive tenants who make life miserable for their neighbours and housemates.

Oxford Mail:

ALSO READ: Housing hearings were a 'farce' says leader

“Private landlords cannot be expected to foot the bill for government failure. There must now be a plan to support households to pay their bills and to compensate landlords fully for their lost income.

“Only this will give both tenants and landlords security and reduce the risk of widespread tenancy failure.”

The British Medical Association has welcomed the extension as it believes 'the threat of mass homelessness...would be disastrous for the spread of the virus', but it wants emergency legislation and funding to be set.