A Council Paid Landlord £17,000 to Stop an Eviction the Day Before Bailiffs Arrived

A council has paid £17,000 to a private landlord to clear a tenant’s rent arrears just one day before bailiffs were due to evict her from her home.

The last minute payment prevented the eviction of a mother with two young children, who had been facing homelessness after falling behind on rent.

Bailiffs were scheduled to attend the property on Wednesday morning following a possession order granted by the county court. However, on Tuesday, the council contacted the landlord and agreed to make a one off lump sum payment of £17,000 to clear the arrears in full.

The payment meant the eviction was cancelled and the tenancy was allowed to continue.

Rent Arrears and Court Action

The tenant had accumulated significant rent arrears after struggling to keep up with monthly payments. Court documents show the landlord pursued possession after arrears continued to increase over time.

The landlord issued possession proceedings, was granted a possession order by the court, and subsequently instructed county court bailiffs.

With the eviction date confirmed, the tenant made an application to the council stating she was at risk of homelessness.

Council Intervention

Under homelessness legislation, councils are required to take reasonable steps to prevent homelessness where a household is threatened with eviction within 56 days.

With bailiffs due to attend within 24 hours, the council intervened to prevent the family being placed into emergency accommodation.

A council officer contacted the landlord and agreed to clear the outstanding rent arrears in a single payment of £17,000, on the condition that the tenancy would continue and the eviction would be withdrawn.

The payment was made directly to the landlord.

Cost of Prevention Versus Temporary Accommodation

Housing experts say councils often face higher costs when households are placed into temporary accommodation.

Figures commonly cited show that temporary accommodation can cost councils £30,000 to £50,000 per household per year, particularly where children are involved.

In comparison, one off prevention payments are frequently used where eviction is imminent and the tenancy can be sustained.

Legal Evictions and Council Payments

The case highlights how councils can intervene even after possession has been granted, provided the eviction has not yet taken place.

Councils generally will not consider financial intervention unless:

• Court proceedings are underway

• Possession has been granted

• Eviction is imminent

Payments are typically conditional on the landlord agreeing to keep the tenant in the property.

A Growing Trend

Cases like this are becoming more common as councils attempt to manage rising homelessness pressures and limited housing stock.

While some landlords face heavy penalties for illegal evictions, lawful court action can in some cases result in councils stepping in with substantial payments to prevent homelessness at the last moment.

In this case, a £17,000 payment was enough to stop bailiffs attending and allow a family to remain in their home.