Possible extension to ban on evictions

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick faced questions from the housing select committee today on how the government will continue to support tenants after the three-month moratorium on evictions is lifted on June 25. He said a decision will be made next month on whether to extend the ban, which was introduced to prevent people losing their homes during the coronavirus crisis, but it is possible there will be an extension.

Paul Shamplina, founder of Landlord Action, commented:

“Most court cases are currently suspended until 25th June. However, although a formal announcement on an extension to the ban on evictions is not due until June, which will be dependent on the passage of the virus and lockdown measures in place at that time, we have already received court orders which state they are suspended until the end of October, so I suspect that is a sign of things to come.

“This is obviously very worrying for landlords, particularly those with existing possession cases issued prior to Covid-19, as those landlords will be faced with many more months of rents arrears on top of those they already had.

“The Government has been urging landlords and tenants to come to agreements and they are working to ensure pre-action protocol is in place, which will put the onus on tenants and landlords to negotiate and reach an agreement, rather than go to court. This means that there will be an emphasis on mediation, such as that recently launched by the Property Redress Scheme, or landlords working in good faith with tenants to agree a payment agreement.”