The response follows a report published by the Resolution Foundation today calling for the development of tenant hardship loans for renters impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meera Chindooroy, deputy policy director for the NRLA, said: “We welcome today’s report which agrees with the need for tenant hardship loans to tackle the rent debt crisis we now face.

“Simply banning repossessions is doing nothing to address this underlying problem which renters and landlords are struggling to cope with.

“The Chancellor needs to develop an urgent financial package as called for by the Resolution Foundation to pay off arrears built since lockdown measures started last year.

“Only this will sustain tenancies and prevent renters facing the consequences of damaged credit scores.”