Evictions are a complex process with help at hand

Councils are expected to follow tight rules and provide help and assistance before evicting tenants and must also prove to the court they have done so.

And councils may have a continuing duty to provide advice and assistance but not housing to tenants who have been evicted.

In the current system I am not sure that legislation could require a lender not to pursue a legitimate financial aim.

A future government must prevent lenders granting mortgages without evidence of income or checking other debts that a person has at the time.

It must also ban creditors from lending up to 125 per cent of the value of a security, stop the predatory payday loan companies and promote local credit unions that assist borrowers with advice and small loans.

Colin Lunt

Gateshead