Cornwall gains extra funding to protect renters threatened with eviction

Cornwall Council has gained extra funding for a pilot scheme working to help tenants threatened with eviction, as the region battles with a housing crisis.

Private renters who have fallen behind on rent and are at risk of homelessness will have access to up to £5,000 through the Tenancy Sustainment and Rescue Project.

The scheme first launched in December 2021 after the council and Citizens Advice Cornwall received £800,000 from the Covid Outbreak Management Fund to deal with homelessness.

Since then and the pilot has helped 40 households remain in their homes and has now been extended with extra funding worth £434,000 to support households until 31 March 2023.

Gill Pipkin, from Citizens Advice Cornwall, said: ‘Our charity is seeing ever increasing demand from people struggling in the current cost of living crisis. Security of housing is a key element of keeping people safe and reducing pressure – this funding is helping us make a real difference to people in crisis, enabling them to stay in their properties and maintain their social, work and support networks.’

The advice service will work with renters and landlords on a case-by-case basis, examining why tenants have been unable to pay rent and assisting them to maintain their tenancy.

In exchange for addressing any arrears and providing support, landlords will be expected to allow renters to remain in their properties for up to 12 months after assistance has been given.

The number of people registering for council and affordable housing in Cornwall has more than doubled over the past two years.

While 9,000 households were signed up to Cornwall Council’s Homechoice Register in 2020, the figure has now jumped up to 22,423 in May this year.

The council believes a combination of stagnant wages and an increase in holiday lets has led to the crisis and has since developed a Housing Crisis Plan to address the problem.

Photo by James Wainscoat