Government extends evictions ban until at least 31 March 2021

Letting agents and landlords will now have to wait another six weeks to evict tenants after the current evictions ban expires on 21st February, the Government has announced.

In November, the government placed a pause on eviction enforcement in England. This meant that bailiffs were banned from repossessing properties over the Christmas period, apart from in the most extreme circumstances. These included instances of rent arrears of nine months’ or longer, illegal occupation, anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse. Those waiting to evict tenants via existing possession orders will now have to wait until 31 March to use bailiffs to complete the process.

Mortgage payment holidays for landlords

There is some support available for landlords facing financial difficulties due to COVID-19. Landlords whose tenants are struggling to pay rent can apply for payment breaks on their mortgages until 31 March, with total deferrals of up to six months allowed. There is an excellent guide to this by Which?

Tenant rights

Tenants are still required to pay their rent as per the terms of their tenancy agreement, although landlords are encouraged to offer support for renters who are struggling. The latest guidance can be found on the Government website.

Buy-to-let landlord advice

The responsibilities of a landlord are unaffected by COVID-19, any essential repairs must still be conducted, and planned gas and electrical safety inspections should be arranged wherever possible. Full Government guidance can be found online.