Fears over eviction of tenants on eve of 1,000-strong protest

Campaigners are demanding a ‘no eviction’ policy from councils and other social housing providers if they are faced with tenants who fall into rent arrears due to a loss in housing benefit.

The changes came into effect on April 1 and constitute a 14 per cent or 25 per cent cut in housing benefit for working age social housing tenants.

Councils are already trying to ease the burden on tenants.

Leeds Council recently announced it might reclassify 865 of its own properties to protect those tenants from the bedroom tax.

However, campaigners say much more needs to be done to protect the other 88 per cent of households affected.

The Leeds demonstration is organised by Hands Off Our Homes who have been holding local meetings in Seacroft, Armley, Little London/Woodhouse, Gipton, Harehills, Chapeltown and Burmantofts.

Organisers are planning a family friendly march with music, circus performers and a special “kids bloc” for children (with parents or guardians).

Speeches will be made by tenants, trade unionists, disabled groups, and other UK anti-bedroom tax campaigners.

John Davies, Hands Off Our Homes chairman, said: “We have seen how much anger and anguish this tax has provoked.

“This march is an opportunity for all those concerned to get together and show the council just how politically damaging their current inaction could be.”

Debbie Locke, a campaigner with the group, said: “We know Leeds City Council did not introduce this wicked tax on our bedrooms, but it has the power to protect every single one of its tenants affected by refusing to evict us.”

News of the big Leeds demo came as the National Housing Federation - the umbrella organisation for housing associations - estimated that 80,000 people across Yorkshire and the Humber area could be affected by the changes to housing benefit.

Unite believes that as many as 30,000 households in Leeds could be affected.

Across the UK, the figure could be as high as 660,000, according to campaigners, although the figures are disputed.

Unite community co-ordinatior for Yorkshire Joe Rollin said: “We will be driving home the message that we want a ‘no eviction’ policy implemented by Leeds City Council and other local authorities in Yorkshire.”

Mr Rollin added: “There are 7,500 council homes and 1,500 social housing units - and we estimate that between 25,000 and 30,000 people could be affected.

“However, this figure constantly changes, as family situations change and people fall in and out of work.”

A spokesman for Leeds Hands Off Our Homes said the pressure was on councils not to evict tenants.

A Leeds Council spokesman said: “The council’s priority with all the welfare changes has been to ensure all affected tenants and residents are fully informed, supported and aware of the impact and the options available to them. We have proactively contacted tenants to make sure they are aware of the changes.

“We are working through our policies on dealing with rent arrears which arise from welfare changes. Currently we are at the early stages of looking into whether or not it will be feasible to re-designate some of our council properties. Ultimately the council has a clear duty to all tenants to collect rent in order to continue to provide vital repairs and investment to improve standards in our housing stock.”