Covid-19 lockdown tenant vacating advice please?

Covid-19 lockdown tenant vacating advice please?

11:19 AM, 13th May 2020, About 4 years ago 3

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My tenant, under a Periodic Tenancy for her room and communal areas of the flat, is saying “I do have the means in which to be able to give you vacant possession by removal of my furniture and personal possessions.” She hasn’t yet qualified exactly what she means though.

BUT she is on lockdown in Wales until the 29th at the earliest, is on a Periodic Tenancy from 1st May (rolling on at the end of her AST), is living back with her family, and the other tenant is still in occupation at the property.

Therefore until then her Periodic Tenancy continues, so does her obligations and responsibilities rolling on from her Assured Shorthold Tenancy ie her share of Council Tax, Utility bills (all in joint names) and any services they both chose to order for the property IS THAT CORRECT?

Do the Governments changes to lockdown today and reopening the rental market, mean a tenant in a flat share in England, with the other tenant still living there in self-isolation, can get friends with a van to come and pack and remove their furniture/possessions to give vacant possession and end their Period Tenancy while still on lockdown in Wales, and get the landlord go to the property to do the checkout?

What about the risk to the tenant still living there in self-isolation?

The risks to the landlord?

or the risks to both the tenant in situ and the landlord from different households by the “men with the van” who may come from more than 1 household?

Or should the removal of that tenants furniture and possession be delayed and the Periodic Tenancy continue until deemed less risk?

Judith


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Comments

Neil Patterson

11:24 AM, 13th May 2020, About 4 years ago

Hi Judith,

Confusingly government have opened up the housing market and given guidance on moving home, but this only relates to England.

https://www.property118.com/housing-market-reopens-from-today/

https://www.property118.com/government-safety-advice-for-moving-home-during-coronavirus-emergency/

Ash

11:51 AM, 13th May 2020, About 4 years ago

I am in a similar situation but in a shared house situation.

I am a landlord with a number of properties where tenants only rent a room with an en suite bathroom and share a kitchen and a living room.

Obviously due to the current pandemic, a couple of tenants have left to shield with families. What are the rules now for re renting one of the rooms which has now become vacant?

I am aware of this mornings announcement but puzzling over its impact on the shared house scenario. Difficult days ahead, I can only assume!

Judith Wordsworth

13:24 PM, 13th May 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Neil Patterson at 13/05/2020 - 11:24
Thanks Neil it is England I want.
The Health Protection Regulations previously prohibited home moves unless “reasonably necessary” but cannot see any guidance for renters moving from shared/ occupied properties.
For viewings any occupier has to leave the property, which may be OK for 1/2 hour but would surely be unreasonable to expect the occupier(s) to vacate the property (cannot go to any other household) and may have no car in which to sit in for hours) to allow professional removal companies to pack up the other Permitted Occupant(s) furniture, possessions then remove them from the property.

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