Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic

Hub for Landlords and Letting Agents

For the latest #StayAlert guidance, please see the.gov coronavirus page here.

Landlord Specific Guidance

Possession Notices

Please see here for technical guidance.

Possession notices can be downloaded from our website here.

England

From 1 October 2021, the length of section 8 and 21 notices is reverted to pre COVID levels.

Please see here for length of section 8 notices in England.

Wales

Section 21 is 6 months notice until at least 24 March 2022

Please see here for length of section 8 notices in Wales.

Applying to the Court

After a notice has expired, an application to the court can be made. However, slightly modified rules apply and there will likely be extensive delays in particular with hearings.

Of particular note is the requirement to include with any claim a notice about how the tenant has been affected by Coronavirus (to the best of the landlords knowledge and belief). Where there is to be a hearing, the notice will have to be sent to the tenant beforehand. For comprehensive guidance on seeking possession, please see this guidance.Our court form guidance contains a sample of the required Coronavirus Notice.

Inspections, Repairs and Maintenance

Essential repairs and maintenance should continue as long as the occupiers are not self-isolating.

Gas and electrical safety inspections should be completed as normal.

Fire alarm testing should continue in particular, communal hallways.

Routine periodic inspections simply checking the condition of a property may now be undertaken.

See the full government guidance about repairs and maintenance here.

Moving Home

Moving home is back to normal and allowed.

Tenants should continue to pay rent and abide by all other terms of their tenancy agreement to the best of their ability. The government has made a strong package of financial support available to tenants, and where they can pay the rent as normal, they should do. Tenants who are unable to do so should speak to their landlord at the earliest opportunity.

Source: Guidance for landlords and tenants

There is extensive support available.

Guidance for landlords and tenants is available here.

Under temporary Coronavirus provisions, face to face checking of a tenant’s right to rent has been amended to allow checking at a distance.

The following changes apply until and including 30 September 2022:

  • landlords or agents can carry out checks over video calls
  • tenants can send scanned documents or a photo of documents for checks using email or a mobile app; rather than sending originals,
  • landlords should use the Landlord Checking Service if a prospective or existing tenant cannot provide any of the accepted documents

Checks continue to be necessary, and you must continue to check the prescribed documents set out in Landlords Guide to Right to Rent or use the Home Office right to rent online service. For the complete temporary Coronavirus guidance, please see here.

From the Website

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Evictions Ban Extended

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The government has announced that the evictions ban which was due to expire on 11 January 2021 has been extended for Both England and Wales. England For England, the evictions ban now ends on 21...

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Lockdown 3.0 Rules for Landlords

Lockdown 3.0 Rules for Landlords

The revised legislation for the latest lockdown in England is scheduled to go through Parliament today (6 January 2021). Similar to the November 2020 lockdown, for landlord’s work, most things are...

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Evictions Suspended Until January 2021

Evictions Suspended Until January 2021

As previously reported, the government had announced that the enforcement of possession would be suspended in any high tier areas and then during the lockdown in England. It was also said that...

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