Pressure is mounting for Westminster to follow the example set in Scotland and Wales by introducing a new hardship fund for tenants in England who are struggling with payment difficulties.

The National Residential Landlords Association has been pushing for ministers to introduce a scheme in England along the same lines as those offered by the Welsh and Scottish governments.

Under these measures, renters who are finding it difficult to access other forms of financial support can apply for interest-free loans to get on top of arrears.

Alternative deposit scheme Flatfair has today added its voice to those calling for greater tenant support.

It says that landlords should not be expected to foot the bill for renters’ financial woes and it is calling on the government to step in.

The NRLA says that private landlords across England have faced rental losses of up to £437m as a result of the pandemic.

Flatfair founder and chief executive Franz Doerr says: “The government has so far found billions to support businesses and the wider economy through the pandemic. 

“But very little attention or support has been given to the private rental sector, with both landlords and tenants likely to be worrying about the uncertain outlook for the country as a whole.

“As the furlough scheme draws to a close, thousands of tenants and landlords alike are bracing for a long, hard winter of uncertainty — not to mention the prospect of evictions come early spring. 

“The chancellor should seriously consider offering tenants support like the Welsh government has through the introduction of a tenant loan scheme. “Otherwise not only will many renters be facing uncertainty in the run-up to Christmas, but many buy-to-let landlords will be equally concerned about their income levels. 

“While businesses have received billions in government support, landlords have received next to nothing — despite most relying on rental income as their main source of income. 

“It is, of course, right to protect tenants but landlords should not be expected to prop up the rental market.”

NRLA policy director Chris Norris says: “It is vital that the government now follows the example set in Wales and Scotland and develops interest free, government guaranteed hardship loans to help tenants pay off rent arrears built as a result of the pandemic. 

“We cannot expect them, or landlords, the vast majority of whom are individuals without the means to absorb significant losses, to continue to struggle without support.”