NRLA welcomes clarity on possession cases

NRLA welcomes clarity on possession cases

14:56 PM, 28th August 2020, About 4 years ago 4

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Ministers have today made important concessions about how repossession cases in the rental market will be handled from 20th September.

It follows extensive lobbying by the National Residential Landlords Association after the Government U-turned on its plan for such cases to be heard again from 23rd August.

Regulations published today and coming into force tomorrow will mean landlords will only need to give tenants who have committed anti-social behaviour four weeks’ notice of their intention to repossess a property. Those who have committed acts of domestic violence will only need to be given two weeks’ notice.

In cases of tenant rent arrears, landlords will now only be required to give four weeks’ notice where a tenant has built six months of arrears. This will ensure action can start to be taken now against tenants whose arrears had been built up before the COVID lockdown. Last week the Government had said the courts would only prioritise cases where tenants were in a year or more’s worth of arrears.

Whilst the NRLA is welcoming today’s announcements, it is warning that it will be mean nothing without a cast-iron guarantee that the courts will begin to hear cases on 20th September. It is further disappointed that the six-month notice period will remain in cases where landlords need to regain possession of a property in order to live in it. This will continue to penalise those, such as servicemen and women in the military, renting their homes out whilst working away.

Today’s announcement fails also to provide the financial package of hardship loans needed to cover COVID-related rent arrears which are vital to sustaining tenancies.

Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association said:

“Today’s announcement provides welcome clarity about how possession cases will be handled. However, it will mean nothing without a complete guarantee that the courts will hear cases from 20th September.

“It is disappointing that the Government has so far failed to heed the warnings of the NRLA and others that a financial package is needed to pay-off rent arrears built due to COVID. In the end this is the best way to sustain tenancies. We will continue to campaign hard for this important measure.”


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Comments

Hardworking Landlord

12:26 PM, 1st September 2020, About 4 years ago

'Provides welcome Clarity'
We really need a more robust tone from our representatives!

DALE ROBERTS

13:42 PM, 1st September 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Hardworking Landlord at 01/09/2020 - 12:26I was completely underwhelmed. The tenant must be 6 months in arrears before notice can be given and then .... I have to start the woefully inadequate and cumbersome process of eviction.
Pre-covid it took between 6-8 months.
It appears a tenant can still live freely for at least a year.
Reminds me of serfdom. We have been thrown crumbs and are expected to rejoice.
Pffftt .. My last UK property will remain empty till sold.

Chris @ Possession Friend

14:50 PM, 1st September 2020, About 4 years ago

Its as clear as Mud ! and 6 months Notice is Nothing to ' Welcome ' !!!
You wonder sometimes if Shelter are infiltrating some organisations !

Reluctant Landlord

17:13 PM, 1st September 2020, About 4 years ago

errr....I think the point/emphasis needs to shift to show ACTION is needed in regard to ending BAD tenancies, not clarity about ....'In the end this is the best way to sustain tenancies.'
Helloooooo - no one talking about possession cases where the tenant is paying their rent and no other issues!

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