Government to reveal anti-eviction measures

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed that the government is bringing forward measures to "protect" private tenants against eviction during the Coronavirus crisis.

The announcement came at Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, in response to queries from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

The PM said: "We will be bringing forward emergency legislation to protect private renters from eviction."

Johnson did not give details of the measures or the timing, although he nodded agreement to Corbyn when he said the measure should be taken in the next 48 hours.

Corbyn cited examples from Spain and some US cities which have halted evictions, and France which has made funds available to postpone rent payments during the crisis.

David Cox, the chief executive of the Association of Residential Letting Agents, backs the mover.

He says: 'We agree that the government must do whatever it takes to safeguard tenants in these unprecedented times. We of course have to support tenants as they face uncertainty over the coming months, while as the Prime Minister has said, ensuring we don't simply pass on the problem to other actors in the economy."