The new director of campaign group Generation Rent says the government has caused “untold mental stress” to thousands of tenants.

Commenting on the four week extension to the eviction ban, the government U-turn announced on Friday afternoon, Baroness Alicia Kennedy says: “We’re glad the government has listened to charities, MPs, local government and public health bodies, but it’s not a permanent solution.

“The evictions crisis should have been addressed earlier – the decision was announced just days before courts were due to open again, putting thousands of renters through untold mental stress. And while the courts remain closed, rent debt is still building up and notices are still being served.

“The government must use this time to introduce a long term plan to protect renters’ homes. Emergency legislation to restrict the use of section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, as well as eviction for rent arrears, should be passed as soon as parliament returns in September.

“As so many evictions in the private sector take place using section 21, this crisis has underlined the urgency of scrapping it for good, as the government promised last year.

“Once evictions are addressed, government needs to end the rent debt crisis through raising benefits to cover average rents and providing grants to those who have built up arrears they cannot pay.”