Acorn Covid eviction protest outside Brighton Town Hall

Campaigners urged Brighton and Hove City Council to release a public statement calling for landlords not to evict people during the pandemic.

The demonstration outside Brighton Town Hall saw councillors asked to publicly back Acorn Brighton's Stop Covid Evictions campaign.

It comes after the government extended the ban on evictions until May 31, as well as commercial evictions until the end of June.

Acorn, described as a union for the community, fear Brighton and Hove will face a rise in evictions over summer once the ban is lifted.

Acorn shared people's experiences of being evicted during the crisis

Kate Alexander, Acorn Brighton’s branch chair, said: “We are at risk of seeing a homelessness crisis in Brighton. Brighton has one of the worst ratios of rent to wages in the country, and many residents have lost income during the pandemic at no fault of their own.

“Acorn have worked throughout the pandemic to protect renters from eviction, it is time for the council to publicly acknowledge our campaign, so that any renter in the city that is facing eviction can join our organisation and fight for their right to secure, safe housing.”

Acorn members shared testimonies relating to Covid evictions and unmanageable rent debt during the protest last Saturday.

• READ MORE: Calls for more to be done to help renting tenants facing eviction in Brighton

Earlier this year, Labour and Green councillors called for an extension to a ban on evictions during the coronavirus crisis.

Leila Erin-Jenkins, Acorn Brighton’s branch secretary, added: “Brighton renters are feeling frustrated and abandoned at the lack of solidarity from elected officials and despite a motion passed in January supporting our campaign, we have yet to see this publicly acknowledged.

“Acorn wants to see support for our campaign on the council’s website and social media to show landlords and letting agents there is widespread resistance to throwing people out onto the streets, and we want to see it now.”

There are fears that Covid could increase homelessness in Brighton

Acorn said that anyone facing evication can contact: brighton@acorntheunion.org.uk