How Manchester Council is helping people tackle soaring rent and evictions

Manchester City Council has vowed to help all those under threat of eviction this winter as bills soar higher than ever. The full council meeting on Wednesday highlighted the fact that so many people have fallen victim to the cost of living crisis and rent rises, as an £8m package of support was unveiled to tackle this.

Council leader Bev Craig put forward the motion in the Town Hall extension chamber to support 100,000 households in Manchester this winter who are believed to be affected. Citing gas price increases of 114 per cent and electricity bills being up by 85 per cent since April 2022, the council leader said they will make up for the ‘lack of action’ being taken by the central government.

A Cost of Living Advice Line has also been set up for residents in Manchester, who will be able contact the council to get advice on how to access support this winter via phone or online during the week between 9am and 4pm.

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A motion in regard to the housing crisis was also highlighted by Coun Angela Moran. She shared a heartbreaking story of 26-year-old Amy, who is now couch surfing after being evicted from her home of four years.

Despite being in employment she couldn’t pay the increased rent and is now sharing a room with two of her teenage cousins. This is something Coun Moran believes 'shouldn’t be happening in one of the richest countries in the world'.

Her motion, which was carried in the chamber, sought the council to petition the central government to ban winter evictions, make social housing more affordable, put a cap on rent rises from private landlords and reintroduce the right to buy scheme. She also