Bath MP Wera Hobhouse has said the Government should bring in an emergency ban on banks repossessing people’s homes over the Christmas period.
It comes as analysis by the Liberal Democrat party showed that around 62,500 homeowners nationwide will see their mortgage rate increase between now and 31st December.
Locally, in Bath and North East Somerset, there were 15 possession warrants and 5 mortgage repossessions in the last 12 months.
The Liberal Democrats have also called on the Government to immediately bring in its long-promised ban on no-fault evictions to protect renters, along with an increase in housing benefits and a moratorium on evictions based on rent arrears to protect those facing soaring rental prices.
In Bath, official stats show 21 tenant evictions in the past year.
The latest figures nationally show a significant increase in people at risk of seeing their home repossessed, with 3,680 mortgage possessions claims in the courts between July and September, up 30% on the same period last year.
Wera Hobhouse commented: “Families in Bath are facing a nightmare before Christmas, with monthly mortgage and rent payments going through the roof. The anxiety of eviction hangs over far too many people’s heads.
“The Conservative Government put hundreds of pounds on people’s mortgages through their disastrous mini-budget.
“The very least they could now do is to take responsibility for fixing this mess and protecting families on the brink.
“No one should face losing their home this Christmas because the Conservative Government crashed the economy.”
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey added: “Jeremy Hunt must act now before it’s too late, by bringing in a temporary ban on home repossessions and a mortgage rescue fund to support those hardest hit.
“The Government must also finally bring in its long-promised ban on no-fault evictions to protect renters at risk of homelessness this winter.”
