“Labour must go further and ban no-fault evictions” says Delyth Jewell

FOLLOWING the Welsh Government’s announcement that tenants will have longer notice periods before facing eviction, Plaid Cymru Shadow Minister for Housing Delyth Jewell MS calls for a full ban on ‘no-fault’ evictions.

The shadow minister has called on the Welsh Government to go further than temporarily making 6-month eviction notices mandatory to give tenants long term assurances.

Whilst welcoming the extension of protections for tenants, Plaid Cymru’s Shadow Minister for Public Service Transformation has called for the Welsh Labour Government to make good on the First Minister’s previous promises about banning no-fault evictions, and indeed the Labour party’s vote in support of this principle.

Ms Jewell noted that Wales is “lagging behind other European countries including France and Scotland”, and that the Welsh Government should join them in supporting its tenants during “this unprecedented period of economic hardship”.

Delyth Jewell MS said,

“Whilst an extension on protecting tenants from evictions is welcome, the Welsh Government’s move simply doesn’t offer long term reassurances for tenants.

“By not fulfilling his promise of banning ‘no-fault’ evictions, Mark Drakeford has made Wales an anomaly in terms of tenants’ rights – lagging behind other European countries including France and Scotland – in the latter, no-fault evictions are banned.

“It’s rather baffling that the Welsh Labour Government has continued to allow ‘no-fault’ evictions considering they themselves voted to ban it during their annual conference – and their head office in London is also strongly in favour of such a ban.

“At a time where 40% of renters in Wales are estimated to be falling behind on their rent due to this unprecedented period of economic hardship, Labour really need to step up and give the long term reassurances that tenants need. The consequences of inaction could be very grim indeed.”

Gwynoro Jones

Former MP for Carmarthenshire, Gwynoro Jones joined the team covering politics in Wales. He has a wealth of experience in politics and has been a regular commentator on radio, TV and in newspapers in Wales. Email: gwynorojones@walesnewsonline.com

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