Responding to the Chancellor’s announcement of furlough schemes where local lockdowns exist, Ben Beadle, chief executive at the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “The local furlough payments are not going to be enough to help renters who are already behind with their rent because of the impact of COVID.

“The impact of local lockdowns makes it even more important that the Chancellor acts without further delay to bring in a package that will help tenants and landlords to sustain tenancies. Landlords cannot be expected to subsidise tenants who are struggling to meet arrears indefinitely.

“The Government should develop tenant hardship loans such as those in Scotland and Wales to support renters in England who have built arrears since lockdown began in March but are not in receipt of benefits.  There also needs to be extra support for those who rely on benefits to meet their housing costs.”