TENANTS’ union Acorn vowed to continue resisting evictions today as the temporary ban came to an end a month after the government announced a last-minute extension to the pandemic evictions ban that it enacted in March.

Acorn held a series of co-ordinated eviction-resistance training sessions in over a dozen spots in England and Wales on Saturday in preparation. 

The training, which included tenants’ legal rights, planning, mobilising as well as practical eviction resistance and what to do when bailiffs come knocking to evict tenants, was fully compliant with relevant Covid-19 regulations and adhered to current social-distancing guidance. More sessions are planned in the coming weeks.

During the pandemic, Acorn has been pressing the government to implement proper protections for renters, lodgers and mortgage holders affected by the pandemic as part of the Housing Is Health campaign.

The campaign called for a rent waiver for those who have lost income due to the crisis and an immediate and permanent end to Section 21 “no fault” evictions, which the government promised last year.

Nearly a quarter of a million private renters have fallen into arrears since the pandemic began, with almost half a million in arrears overall, Acorn has warned.

This leaves many people at risk of eviction and homelessness, with eviction proceedings returning to courts, putting people’s health and wellbeing at risk, the union said.

Acorn Cardiff secretary Nicki Kindersley said: “Both Westminster and the Senedd have yet again failed to protect renters against homelessness in the face of the pandemic. 

“Although an extension to notice periods is a positive move, this is just kicking the can down the road and we still anticipate thousands of evictions this autumn and winter.”