Citizens Advice say tenants should not be pressured to allow viewings

Citizens Advice say tenants should not be pressured to allow viewings

10:43 AM, 19th May 2020, About 4 years ago 5

Text Size

Citizens Advice wants the government to extend the measures put in place to protect tenants from the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic. In particular the government should accelerate its policy to scrap section 21 and is also calling for temporary changes to allow courts further discretion when faced with tenants whose rent arrears have been caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

Amy Hughes, housing expert at Citizens Advice, said:

“The most important thing is that tenants are safe and feel safe. Tenants should not be pressured to allow viewings. The government guidelines stress that social distancing must be adhered to and that there should be no viewings at all in properties where tenants are shielding, or self-isolating because they have symptoms of coronavirus.

“In addition, properties should only be put on the rental market if the tenant has said they want to move.

“However, existing measures to protect people who are having difficulty paying their rent because of the pandemic are only temporary. Possession proceedings to allow landlords to evict tenants are only paused until 25 June.”

Citizens Advice to tenants rights:

  • You do not have to leave your home just because a fixed term has come to an end unless your landlord has obtained an order for possession

  • Even in this instance, in many cases measures to delay the process have been put in place.

  • If you don’t want your landlord or letting agent to organise viewings you can refuse and they may not enter without your permission

  • However, allowing access may be a part of your contract, and breaching the terms of your contract may allow your landlord to take steps to enforce it through an injunction or serving notice and make a claim for possession

  • But to succeed the landlord needs to prove they are being reasonable, and a court may not consider it reasonable if the tenant is taking steps to protect themselves against a potential health risk

  • A landlord who serves a so-called ‘no fault eviction’ section 21 notice, however, does not need to prove that they are acting reasonably.


Share This Article


Comments

David Lester

11:50 AM, 19th May 2020, About 4 years ago

Non-payment of rent is theft, Landlords are a Business not a Charity! when will these left-wing tree huggers realise?

Dr Rosalind Beck

13:23 PM, 19th May 2020, About 4 years ago

The Citizens Advice Bureau is becoming more vociferous with its anti-landlord attitudes. When I first started out as a landlord I had an awful tenant and didn't know what to do. I went to CAB for help and was astonished to be told they 'don't help landlords.' As they are tax-payer funded I don't see how this position is allowed.

Anyway, what they now seem to be doing is bringing this anti-landlord attitude into their national statements. Here, they are encouraging tenants to be obstructive, outstay legal notices and so on - this will damage tenants' future prospects of finding private rentals as it could easily show up in landlord references. It is a very short-sighted approach to take.

Michael Johnson - Amzac Estates

14:30 PM, 19th May 2020, About 4 years ago

As the PRS has grown so much over the last 30 years this housing situation was never considered. With subsequent national governments, devolved governments and local authorities choosing to ignore the lack of social housing the PRS has absorbed the issue. However as we in the PRS view housing as a commodity and the general viewpoint of all the named authorities generally see housing as a right truthfully I cannot see how we can ever square the circle!
This will cause so much tension ( especially in the light of the Covid 19 crisis) some landlords will leave the sector but generally other landlords more often than not step in, so honestly I cannot see a long term solution. Authorities generally respond with over legislating when they cannot understand the problem and just want it to go away, however this one certainly wont!

Ingrid Bacsa

8:29 AM, 20th May 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Lesley Lester at 19/05/2020 - 11:50
Theft from Landlords is "legal" and encouraged by the Council, the government and tenant support groups. So is abuse of your property as you can only enter to inspect with tenants' permission . After eviction, when you see the damage, the law will not prosecute and the cost of repair must be born by you because it is a "civil" matter.

You will also be sued if your tenant chooses to be anti-social - well after all, it will take ages to evict him. Think of the neighbours. YOU bought the licence!

Lucy

10:18 AM, 20th May 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Lesley Lester at 19/05/2020 - 11:50
I totally agree. So if we have a bad tennents which i have and cost me 18 thousand as needed windows, bathroom, carpets four coats of paint but this seems to be ok for tennent to leave this mess mmm

Leave Comments

In order to post comments you will need to Sign In or Sign Up for a FREE Membership

or

Don't have an account? Sign Up

Landlord Tax Planning Book Now