MAJOR concerns remain over an anticipated rise in homelessness, despite an eleventh-hour extension of the Government's ban on evictions.

Fears have been raised that 250,000 people across the country could soon be at increased risk of eviction, according to homelessness charity Shelter.

District councils in the south of the county held meetings with the County Courts for Cumbria and Lancashire last week - in which directions were provided on new court protocols, following the anticipated lifting of possession proceedings.

The four-week-long ban extension was confirmed on Friday, after indications from Number 10 that it was considering a last-minute change of stance.

Opposition parties have warned that emergency legislation would be needed in order to prevent a wave of winter evictions that could leave thousands homeless nationwide.

South Lakes MP Tim Farron said the Government was 'simply kicking the can down the road' with the last-minute announcement of that the four-week ban would be extended.

South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) has said it is working with partner bodies and county courts to offset the effects of the ban being lifted. Since lockdown began in March, SLDC has recorded a 40 per cent increase in the number of people contacting it for homelessness advice.

A spokesperson for SLDC said last week that ‘we do anticipate a further rise in enquiries when the suspension of evictions comes to an end.’

Commenting last week, Cllr Jonathan Brook, SLDC Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Innovation, said: “As always, our message to anyone facing the plight of homelessness is to get in touch with us as quickly as possible.

"The sooner people ask for help, the more chance there is that we can prevent them losing the safety and security of the roof over their head."

Cath Purdy, CEO of the South Lakes Housing Association, said it was 'almost inevitable' that a rise in homelessness levels across the district would come about as a result of the ban being lifted.

"South Lakes Housing is a social organisation above all - we do a lot of preventative work, such as helping people access the benefits they're legally entitled to.

"So we won't be rushing to take people to court or to start any eviction actions, as long as tenants engage with us - legal action is our last resort."

Cllr Brook added: “There is little the team haven’t heard before and nobody should feel embarrassed about picking up the phone. We are here to help and it really is okay to ask.

“Our Housing Options team provides a one-stop service for local people experiencing difficulties, such as being asked to leave by their landlord, family/relationship breakdowns, young people leaving home, domestic violence, and getting into arrears with rent/mortgage.

“A lot of our work is focussed on preventing the misery of homelessness before it happens, by liaising with landlords to allow tenants to stay on where they are; help with paying arrears and deposits; and working with families and young people to prevent relationship breakdowns spiralling into homelessness."

Mr Farron believes the Government needs to go one step further and remove no fault evictions.

He said: “We’re facing the biggest backlog of potential evictions in recent history.

“There are a lot of people whose circumstances have changed since March, or who are on six-month or indefinite tenancies, who are going to be in a very difficult situation.

“The Government urgently needs to get rid of ‘no-fault evictions’. It said it would during last year’s election and made some noises about it earlier this year. But so far it has done nothing.”