Property evictions to resume
Property evictions are to resume but residential tenants will continue to be assisted during the Covid-19 restrictions with longer notice periods remaining in place until at least October 2021. This was announced by The Housing Minister, Christopher Pincher, on the 12th of May.
During the initial lockdown in 2020, the Government reformatted the notice periods for residential tenancies, affording tenants extra protection during the pandemic. As part of these temporary changes, a Section 21 Notice (which normally provides a tenant a 2-month notice to vacate a property) was extended to 3 months – for notices between 26th March 2021 and 28th August 2021. Notice served on or after the 29th of August 2021 had to be a minimum of 6 months and this continues to be the case at present.
As the nation is now slowly recovering from the pandemic and with the vaccination program is well underway, notice periods will once again be altered in line with the Governments Roadmap. This will mean that notice periods will be decreased to 4 months from the 1st of June 2021. As we approach Step 3 and 4 of the Government’s Roadmap (which are set to begin on the 21st of June 2021 at the earliest), the new measures will ensure that residential tenants have continued protection through the ongoing pandemic whilst allowing Landlords an easier process when evicting tenants. It is estimated that around 45% of private landlords only have one property which they rent and therefore were at high risk of rent arrears whilst facing a very lengthy eviction process.
The Government long term plan is to allow notice periods to revert back to the pre-pandemic levels from October 2021, however, this is subject to Public Health advice and the successful implementation of the Government’s Roadmap therefore this date could yet change.
Bailiff-enforced evictions will also resume post 31st of May 2021. The current ban prohibited evictions being carried out by bailiffs in circumstances where anyone living in the property had Covid-19 symptoms or was self-isolating.
Cases, where fraud or anti-social behaviour are present, will continue to be prioritised by the Courts as is the case now.
If you would like any more information relating to this article or require assistance with possession matters, commercial or residential, then please feel free to contact me: Telephone – 020 8221 8032, via email: sebastian.jakubowski@bowlinglaw.co.uk or visit my profile.
This is not legal advice; it is intended to provide information of general interest about current legal issues.
