Eviction Ban Extended 2 Months Until 23rd August

Eviction Ban Extended 2 Months Until 23rd August

10:38 AM, 6th June 2020, About 4 years ago 23

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The government extended the suspension of new evictions in England and Wales until 23 August. The extension announced by the Housing Secretary takes the moratorium on evictions to a total of five months.

Ministers are also working with the judiciary, legal representatives and the advice sector on arrangements, including new rules, which will mean that courts are better able to address the need for appropriate protection of all parties, including those shielding from coronavirus.  This is to ensure that judges have all the information necessary to make just decisions and that the most vulnerable tenants can get the help they need.

Where tenants do experience financial difficulties as a result of the pandemic, the government is clear that landlords and tenants should work together and exhaust all possible options such as flexible payment plans which take into account a tenant’s individual circumstances to ensure cases only end up in court as an absolute last resort.

Over the coming weeks, the government is taking careful steps to ease lockdown measures, alongside decisive steps already taken to unlock the housing market so people can move if they need to – for example where they may need to move for work or for family reasons.

While the government is taking unprecedented action to protect tenants and landlords during these times, the ultimate ambition is to transition out of these measures at the end of August to allow the market to operate while ensuring people have appropriate access to justice.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “We have provided an unprecedented package of support for renters during this pandemic. Today, I am announcing that the government’s ban on evictions will be extended for another 2 months. That takes the moratorium on evictions to a total of 5 months.

“Eviction hearings will not be heard in courts until the end of August and no-one will be evicted from their home this summer due to coronavirus.

“We are also working with the judiciary on proposals to ensure that when evictions proceedings do recommence, arrangements, including rules, are in place to assist the court in giving appropriate protections for those who have been particularly affected by coronavirus – including those tenants who have been shielding.”

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Robert Buckland QC MP, said: “Protecting vulnerable people has been our priority throughout this pandemic. Extending this ban will give people invaluable security in these turbulent times and work continues at pace to ensure vulnerable renters remain protected long after the ban ends.”

Today’s announcement builds on the package of measured taken to protect both renters and landlords affected by coronavirus, including:

  • The introduction of emergency legislation so landlords won’t be able to start proceedings to evict tenants for at least a 3 month period which will remain in place until at least September;
  • Extending mortgage payment holdings to include landlords whose tenants are experiencing financial difficulties due to the pandemic;
  • Supporting businesses to continue to pay their staff through the furlough scheme, as well as strengthening the welfare safety net with a nearly £7 billion boost to the welfare system and increasing Local Housing Allowance;
  • Delivering £180 million in Discretionary Housing Payments to councils across the country to support renters with housing costs in the private and social rented sectors;
  • Guidance which helps landlords and tenants to work together to resolve issues at the earliest opportunity.

Further information

  • On request of the Lord Chancellor the Civil Procedure Rule Committee has today agreed to extend the ban on eviction proceedings by a further 2 months. The CPRC is an advisory non-departmental public body, made up of judges, barristers, solicitors and lay advice members, which makes rules to set out the practise and procedure to be followed in the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal, the High Court and the County Court.
  • The two month extension will come into force on 25 June, ensuring there’s no gap between the existing ban and the extension, and also applies to home owners, commercial and leasehold.
  • The Master of the Rolls, as head of civil justice, has convened a judiciary-led, cross-sector, task-and-finish working group to consider and to address so far as practicable matters affecting litigants and the courts when the present stay on possession proceedings is lifted. This group has the support of the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government;
  • The focus of the group is on preparing the courts for the lifting of the suspension including how best to support parties, including vulnerable renters. The group will also include rules, guidance (including to private landlords as well as social landlords), the provision of information and the sharing of best practice.
  • Membership includes representatives from the judiciary, government, advice sectors, legal profession, Legal Aid agency, charities and pro bono organisations;
  • These changes apply to England and Wales.
  • Guidance for landlords and renters is in the process of being updated to reflect these changes

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Comments

Rod

12:15 PM, 8th June 2020, About 4 years ago

I forgot to mention :- If can't beat them, joine them' and soak up some nice juicy benefits- lovely! It's a shame they've stopped flying to the Mediterranean!

Coastal

12:27 PM, 8th June 2020, About 4 years ago

Just prior to the lockdown / eviction ban, I successfully gained possession from the court. This was due to no rent having been paid for quite some period, plus the tenants boyfriend dealing drugs from the property - which resulted in a police raid in which they smashed the front door down. Because they made an arrest, I had to pay for this damage on top of the then several thousand rent arrears, which has now grown massively due to the ban!
The lockdown / eviction ban prevented the bailiffs from originally arriving after the court ruling. These people remain in the property to this day....because the Government class all tenants as vulnerable and landlords as rogues! Clearly a 'one size fits all' policy.
Am now considering changing all future lets to rent a room only, with a landlord manager in situ.

BobbyG

13:11 PM, 8th June 2020, About 4 years ago

Sorry to bother you all but does anyone have an answer to my query earlier in this thread?

Many thanks!

Old Mrs Landlord

13:26 PM, 8th June 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by BobbyG at 08/06/2020 - 13:11
The minimum notice period landlords must give tenants is now three months.

DALE ROBERTS

13:42 PM, 8th June 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Rod at 08/06/2020 - 11:56
Rogue tenants cottoned on to this rewarding lifestyle way before you did Mr Fawkes. The GBP16 000 my last professional parasite stole from me in unpaid rental is just one of a litany of her successful heists. We are never going to beat this grossly unfair system until we collectively accept that BTL is a dying albatross and exit the game. It's over.

Troydave

21:55 PM, 8th June 2020, About 4 years ago

Just wondering if there are any landlords affected by this eviction ban who have successfully applied to be furloughed and if so what criteria was applied ?

Old Mrs Landlord

8:08 AM, 9th June 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by David Lovegrove at 08/06/2020 - 21:55
I am puzzled by your question. Furloughing is granted by employers to employees. As a landlord, who is your employer?

BobbyG

9:11 AM, 9th June 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Old Mrs Landlord at 08/06/2020 - 13:26
Hi
Does that mean that the earliest time that that a landlord can give notice is following 23 August and that this the property will not be vacated before 23 November?

That’s a long time away.

Luke P

9:17 AM, 9th June 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by BobbyG at 09/06/2020 - 09:11
No, you can serve notice today (if at least 3mo), but August is the earliest anyone can physically be evicted. And it’ll be when the Courts accept cases again.

BobbyG

9:23 AM, 9th June 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Luke P at 09/06/2020 - 09:17
Thanks Luke!

That answers my question. That said, I was totally unaware that the notice period had increased to 3 months. Is that a recent change?

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