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
- Inspections, Repairs, Maintenance & Moving Home
- Rent and Support
- Right to Rent (Immigration Act)
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
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 Suspension to Be Extended for Two Months
The government has announced that the current suspension on possession proceedings is to be extended until 23 August 2020. In the announcement made last night, Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert...
Homebuyers Shrug Off Lockdown Worries as Market Reopens
House buyers and renters are looking to move home after the lockdown ban temporarily closed the property market. The latest data from online housing portal Zoopla shows 60% of people wanting to move...
Landlord Confidence in Buy to Let Falls to Record Low
One of Britain’s leading buy to let mortgage lenders has lifted the lid on what landlords think about the lettings market for the first time. The Mortgage Works (TMW) is the property investment arm...
Auctions Hammered as Lockdown Pushes Sales Online
The coronavirus lockdown has hammered the number of homes going to auction. Although buyers have spent £100 million on homes, the number of properties going to auction dropped by more than 40% and...
Lockdown Rents Rise as Tenant Demand Evaporates
Lockdown buy to let rents have continued to grow on trend, according to the latest official figures. Private renters saw the cost of a new home rise by 1.5% in the year to the end of April and 1.4%...
Useful Links
Understanding the possession action process: A guide for private landlords in England and Wales
Technical guidance on eviction notices
Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
COVID-19 and renting: guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities
Support available if you are a tenant living in Wales – COVID-19
Coronavirus (COVID-19): what you need to do
Guidance for tradespeople working in people’s homes
Gas Safe Register: CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19): ADVICE FOR LANDLORDS
Stay at home: guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection
NHS Coronavirus (COVID-19) specific advice
Check if you have coronavirus symptoms (111 NHS service)
Guidance for employers and business
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Universal Credit Landlord Engagement Newsletter
COVID-19: support for businesses
Shelter coronavirus page (includes guidance about inspections and possession)