Less than 2% of illegal evictions lead to landlord lawsuits, figures show Business News

Campaigners have called for a crackdown on illegal evictions after analysis suggests less than 2% of cases result in lawsuits against a landlord.

Generation Rent found that the number of people who reported homelessness due to an illegal eviction jumped 28%, from 810 in 2018-19 to 1,040 the following year. Another 480 cases were reported between April and September 2020.

The numbers are likely to significantly underestimate the level of illegal evictions taking place as they only count those people who report having been made homeless and their local authority has a duty to find them new accommodation.