Rent Arrears (Hansard, 15 February 1983)

§ Mr. Race
asked the Attorney-General how many tenants of local authorities and new towns have had their goods distrained in rent arrears cases in England in the years 1971 to 1981; and in how many of these cases leave of the county court has been obtained to carry out action for distress.

§ The Solicitor-General
No information is available on the number of tenants of local authorities and new towns who have had their goods distrained in cases of rent arrears during the period in question. Such information could be collected only at disproportionate cost. Leave of the court is not required.

§ Mr. Race
asked the Attorney-General how many (a) possession orders have been granted and (b) evictions have taken place by leave of the county courts, for reasons of rent arrears in England in the years 1971 to 1981, concerning dwellings which were rented from (i) a local authority or new towns, (ii) a private landlord and (iii) a housing association; and what were the average amounts involved and the proportion of the tenants concerned who were in receipt of, or otherwise eligible for, supplementary benefit.

§ The Solicitor-General
The information collected does not distinguish cases where possession is ordered on grounds of rent arrears from other cases; nor between all the different types of landlord referred to. The information about convictions carried out does not distinguish between different types of landlord at all. The following table sets out the information that is available. The figures are taken from the annual published volumes of "Judicial Statistics (Civil Judicial Statistics, before 1975)", where more details can be found.
91W

Possession orders made in respect of residential premises

Year Total In favour of local authorities, new town corporations, housing associations, housing trusts, etc.^* In favour of private landlords^* Possession warrants executed†

1977 83,714 Not available Not available 19,433

1978 71,262 41,800 10,800 16,717

1979 70,014 42,100 12,300 16,008

1980 76,623 46,900 11,400 18,095

1981 88,025 53,100 9,800 19,072

^* The figures in these colums are estimates based on a sample taken every 4 months.

† The figures in this column include a substantial number of evictions (a) of trespassers and (b) in respect of non-residential premises.

	Possession orders made in respect of residential premises
Year	Total	In favour of local authorities, new town corporations, housing associations, housing trusts, etc.^*	In favour of private landlords^*	Possession warrants executed†
1977	83,714	Not available	Not available	19,433
1978	71,262	41,800	10,800	16,717
1979	70,014	42,100	12,300	16,008
1980	76,623	46,900	11,400	18,095
1981	88,025	53,100	9,800	19,072
^* The figures in these colums are estimates based on a sample taken every 4 months.
† The figures in this column include a substantial number of evictions (a) of trespassers and (b) in respect of non-residential premises.