The government has responded to pressure to extend the eviction ban and notice period, to protect tenants from losing their homes.
The government announced today an extension on the eviction ban by another month for the 3rd time.
The evictions ban was introduced in March as part of measures to protect the UK from the coronavirus crisis. The county courts had been set to kickstart possession claims from this Monday.
Various campaign groups had called on the government to protect renters who have fallen into rent arrears as a result of the pandemic.
The government has buckled under pressure and given way and extended the eviction ban until September 20th.
That is not all – The government as also introduced an extended notice period too. Tenants in England just like Wales will now also get at least six months’ notice of eviction from the previous notice period of three months.
Housing charity Shelter claims that more than 230,000 private tenants have fallen into arrears since the start of the pandemic. See the blog on Shelter & fake news.
Housing secretary Robert Jenrick.
He 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 four-week ban on evictions, meaning no renters will have been evicted for six months.
“I am also increasing protections for renters – six-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.” He said.
Mr Sajjad Ahmad, the CEO of the British Landlords Association, said: “To say we are disappointed is an understatement. We will be making a full statement later tomorrow”.
Mr Sasha Charles the CEO of Landlord Advice UK which is one of the UK’s leading tenant eviction companies said: “We already have landlords who not only are going to lose their buy to let property, but they stand to lose their home on which they raised some capital to put towards the mortgage on the BTL. A small number of tenants have the means to pay rent but simply do not want to pay”.
Source: British Landlords Association
Author: Paul Hampton
Date: 21st of August 2020
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