19th
May 2021
Landlords have breathed a huge sigh of relief and overwhelming welcomed the government’s announcement to finally end the eviction ban, as well as reducing the required notice period.
The recent announcement (13th May) was made by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government when it stated that the ‘pandemic’ introduced standard notice period of six months, will be reduced down to four months from June 1st.
But a trade body wants the government to take more action when a spokesperson said: “Having operated under emergency conditions for over a year, today’s announcement from the Government is an important step in ensuring the sector’s recovery.
“It does nothing though to address the rent debt crisis. With the number of private tenants in arrears having increased threefold since lockdown measures started, more are at risk of losing their homes as restrictions ease.
“We want to see tenancies sustained wherever possible and call on the Chancellor to step in and provide affected tenants with the financial support they need to pay off rent arrears built as a result of the pandemic.”
Besides the standard notice period being reduced the MHCLG also stated that the bailiff enforced evictions ban ends on May 31st.
Generation Rent is also demanding the government to give money to renters when its group director, Baroness Alicia Kennedy, said: “When 353,000 private renters are in arrears, and the government still has no plan to clear their debts, loosening the restrictions on evictions is reckless.
“Renters who have lost income as a result of the pandemic are already struggling to find a home they can afford – if the government doesn’t intervene, thousands of homeless families could be turning to their council for help. We can’t build back better without financial support for the renters who have been hit hardest.
"The government must introduce a Covid Rent Debt Fund, allowing renters to clear their debts and landlords to claim for up to 80 per cent of income lost.”
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