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16:00 PM, 21st August 2020, About 4 years ago 12
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The ban on evictions extended for another 4 weeks and new 6 month notice periods to be in place until at least 31 March 2021.
Renters affected by coronavirus will continue to be protected after the government extended the ban on evictions for another 4 weeks, meaning in total no legal evictions will have taken place for 6 months, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced today (21 August 2020).
The government also intends to give tenants greater protection from eviction over the winter by requiring landlords to provide tenants with 6 months’ notice in all bar those cases raising other serious issues such as those involving anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse perpetrators, until at least the end of March.
The government will keep these measures under review with decisions guided by the latest public health advice.
When courts do resume eviction hearings they will carefully prioritise the most egregious cases, ensuring landlords are able to progress the most serious cases, such as those involving anti-social behaviour and other crimes, as well as where landlords have not received rent for over a year and would otherwise face unmanageable debts.
The government has taken unprecedented action to support renters during the pandemic, preventing people getting into financial hardship and helping businesses to pay salaries – meaning no tenants have been evicted since the start.
As a result, according to independent research, 87% of tenants have continued to pay full rent since the start of the pandemic, with a further 8% agreeing reduced fees with their landlords.
The vast majority of landlords have shown understanding and leadership, taking action to support tenants.
With coronavirus still posing an ongoing risk to public health, the government will continue to take action where necessary to further protect households in both the private and social rented sector are supported over winter, helping to keep them safe.
Today’s extension to the stay and 6-month notice periods will ensure those most at risk are protected. If tenants are unable to afford their rent we encourage them to speak to their landlord to agree a solution, and some households may decide to consider moving.
Government will continue to work with the judiciary and stakeholders to ensure that the courts are prepared for eviction cases to be heard safely.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick MP said: “I know this year has been challenging and all of us are still living with the effects of COVID-19. That is why today I am announcing a further 4 week ban on evictions, meaning no renters will have been evicted for 6 months.
“I am also increasing protections for renters – 6 month notice periods must be given to tenants, supporting renters over winter.
“However, it is right that the most egregious cases, for example those involving anti-social behaviour or domestic abuse perpetrators, begin to be heard in court again; and so when courts reopen, landlords will once again be able to progress these priority cases.
Further information
Case listing, including prioritisation, is a judicial function and we are working with the judiciary through the Master of the Rolls’ Working Group on possession to consider the categories of serious cases that would be prioritised when hearings resume. Further detail on those categories will be set out in due course and we will engage with key stakeholders on this.
Independent polling for the National Residential Landlords Association recently found that 87% of private tenants have paid their rent as normal throughout the pandemic so far. An additional 8% said that they had agreed a reduced rent, a rent-free period or made some other agreement with their landlord or letting agent.
The extension to the ban on evictions and prioritisation of the most serious case applies to courts in England and Wales
The intention to extend notice periods to 6 month applies to England only.
On 5 June the government announced that the suspension of housing possession cases in the courts had been extended by a further 2 months.
To support those on Universal Credit or Housing Benefit in the private rented sector, Local Housing Allowance rates have been set to the 30th percentile of rents in each area. For those who require additional support Discretionary Housing Payments are available.
As announced at the spending round for 2020/21 there is already £180 million in Discretionary Housing Payments for Local authorities to distribute for supporting renters with housing costs in the private and social rented sectors.
We remain committed to bringing forward reforms to provide greater security to tenants, but it is only right that this is balanced with an assurance that landlords are able to recover their properties where they have valid reasons to do so. This is vital to ensuring the future supply of good quality housing in the rented sector.
We will bring forward legislation in due course, once the urgencies of responding to the pandemic have passed, to deliver a better deal for renters and a fairer more effective rental market.
Question Everything
11:19 AM, 24th August 2020, About 4 years ago
Is anyone truly surprised? This is the ever increasing attack on the middle class.
Forget SDLT, CGT will be increased by the time you can get your tenants out so you will be penned in by that escape route. You know they have "employed a think tank to look at it" already.
Time to acknowledge that this is all tied in with the Plandemic and the controlled demolition of the UK & world economy. Oooh, am I a "conspiracy theorist"?
Why would we put a plaster cast on the whole leg for a little bruise, and be told that the cast needs to stay on indefinitely? because Mr/Ms BBC news told you to? They look so earnest, they couldn't possibly be reading from a script?
Are we really comfortable being told that we can't kiss our partners while having sex? Was that a joke? Yes, a joke on us. That is the respect they have for us.
The problem is that we are moaning about an "unfair' or "stupid" .gov.
What we should be doing is rallying together to expose their crimes and abuse upon the people. Hint, they always use an "altruistic" or "safety" or "health" reason to inflict their abuse.
Here's another one. Why are we threatened with large fines if we "discriminate" on DSS tenants? Because it is more expensive for .gov to put them into B&Bs, and with more and more people losing their homes due to the economic meltdown, they will need the PRS. It's not about social values people, it's about money. It's about moving the pieces around to arrange things the way they want. And under a Conservative government LOL.
If it was under Labour we would be screaming that they are being communist. So they have played a wonderful cognitive dissonance on the people to forward their agenda. The have-nots won't rebel because they are being given free money and security, the middle class won't rebel because they are too fat and have some room to be fleeced and believe in a blue gov, and the upper class? They have all their money in assets that can't be touched.
So once the Tory's have decimated the middle class, labour will be voted in to finish off the job of running a totalitarian communist/fascist state. They will come in to "fix" the problem of everyone being without a home and food on their plate. Doesn't matter which side of the coin you want to call it. It is the same coin.
I urge you to follow the people who are trying to make a difference e.g., http://www.keepbritianfree.com
Property may have a wonderful crash in some months time, but in the mean time, your money can be frozen in your accounts so you may not be able to buy them anyway. Look at avenues to get your cash out of their reach. Buy physical gold, silver, and Bitcoin.
National Banks in the US have been given the green light to hold cryptocurrencies about a month ago. What more assurance do you need???
https://www.americanbanker.com/news/occ-allows-banks-to-hold-cryptocurrency-assets-for-safekeeping
Reply to me here of you want help learning more about Bitcoin and blockchain.
Mike T
9:52 AM, 25th August 2020, About 4 years ago
Reply to the comment left by James at 21/08/2020 - 18:39
Hi James,
If I understand your situation correctly the 'move out' date on your sec.21 is the 19/09/2020. I think your sec.21 is still valid. After you pass that date and they have not moved thats when you would normally seek an eviction notice. The sec.21 allows you 6 months in which to do that. Whether you can or not depends on what restrictions are in place at that time. I am sure many of us are in the same boat - it's a wait and see situation. Unless anyone else can shred some light on things ......