Government introduces 6-month notice period for tenant evictions

The government has announced that landlords will have to give six months’ notice if they wish to evict tenants who are struggling to pay their rent during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It has also extended the ban on evictions until 21 September.

The six-month notice rule will apply in all cases except those involving serious issues such as anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse perpetrators.

Ministers will keep these measures under review with decisions guided by the latest public health advice.

When courts do resume eviction hearings, they will prioritise the most serious cases such as those where landlords have not received rent for over a year and would otherwise face unmanageable debts.

The government’s financial support packages such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme have enabled 87% of tenants to continue to pay full rent since the start of the pandemic, with a further 8% agreeing reduced fees with their landlords.

With coronavirus still posing an ongoing risk to public health, the government says it will continue to act where necessary to ensure households in both the private and social rented sector are supported over winter.

It will also work with the judiciary and stakeholders to ensure that the courts are prepared for eviction cases to be heard safely.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said the new measures would provide much needed help to renters but added: “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.”

We shall keep clients informed of developments.

Please contact Janice Young or Santokh Singh if you would like more information about the issues raised in this article or any aspect of commercial property law.