Tenant Evictions On the Rise As Landlords Benefit From High Home Prices and Property Shortage

An increasing number of tenants are being evicted by landlords in the UK, as the country experiences sky-high home price levels and a rising shortage of rented accommodation.

Sky News reported that charity Citizens Advice (CAB) saw a 38% increase in the number of tenants who turned to the charity for advice after receiving eviction notices, despite being regular with rent payment.

The charity, which provides free advice to people for solving their legal, financial and other problems, said it received 5,000 such cases in 2013/2014, compared to 3,750 in the previous year.

The CAB also found that there is a correlation between house prices and evictions. Tenants in London and the South East, where house prices are the highest in the country, are facing acute problems, according to the charity.

During the first quarter, house prices rose by 18% in London and 10% in the South East, compared to the same period the previous year.

Meanwhile, the number of tenants in London and the South East seeking help over eviction notices was 900, compared with 400 over the first quarter of 2013.

"Sadly landlords can evict for no reason, even if you've been keeping up with the rent," Sky News quoted as saying Roger Harding from the homelessness charity Shelter.

"We've found many worrying examples where landlords have evicted people simply because they don't want to have to deal with repair issues and that's something we want to see outlawed."

Given the shortage of houses for rent, landlords are not finding it difficult to find new tenants at higher rental rates.