The end-of-life care charity Marie Curie is urging for changes to the Renters (Reform) Bill to shield people who’ve recently lost a loved one and rent their homes.
Each year, an estimated 300,000 individuals in England and Wales have to relocate because they’ve lost someone in their household.
The issue has intensified, with those who lost someone up to November 2023 being twice as likely to have to move out compared to those who experienced bereavement between 2018 and 2021.
Marie Curie’s CEO, Matthew Reed, commented that the lack of empathy in the current system could lead to nearly 400 renters being evicted daily due to the death of a household member.
Reed emphasized the profound distress caused by the death of a cohabitant, whether a family member, partner, or friend, and pointed out the financial hardships bereaved renters face, such as decreased income and funeral-related expenses.
He argues that the emotional turmoil of losing a home and its associated memories should not be added to their grief.
In alignment with Marie Curie’s initiative, Clive Betts MP, who leads the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee, endorsed amendments to the Renters Reform Bill that would safeguard the rights of those who’ve recently lost someone.
Betts expressed that it is entirely wrong for landlords to evict tenants during their time of mourning.
He insists that if the government genuinely aims to defend renters, the legislation must be structured to ensure tenants maintain their fundamental rights to housing and security even during the most tragic times.