News

The Government has confirmed that the emergency measures introduced as part of the Coronavirus Act 2020, requiring landlords to provide longer notice periods when seeking possession of residential property, will come to an end on 30 September.

?With so many changes over the last 18 months, landlords could be forgiven for getting confused about how much notice they have to give to their tenants if they would like to gain possession of their property.

Caridon Landlord Solutions, which provides specialist advice on Universal Credit and Housing Benefit to private landlords, letting agencies and housing associations, says that landlords with tenants in receipt of Universal Credit are struggling to set up Alternative Payment Arrangements because the online Universal Credit landlord portal is closed to new claimants. It is thought this is because the Department for Work and Pension (DWP) is overwhelmed by the number of new claims, but landlords say it is forcing them to consider serving notice on their tenants.

It has been another tough start to the year for everyone, including landlords, many of whom have tenants that are unable to pay their rent in full (or at all) due to COVID-19. With many already struggling to cope under the tighter restrictions in the UK, we have been looking into what advice and support is on offer to landlords who may not have explored their options yet.

?In a further blow to the PRS, the ban on possession proceedings has been extended until 20 September and landlords must now provide tenants with at least 6 months’ notice period prior to seeking possession through the courts in most cases.

Concern about the COVID-19 outbreak is mounting around the world with the situation developing and changing fast. We are all having to take steps to deal with the issues that arise as a result of this unprecedented situation, but with so much information landlords and tenants are finding it difficult to decipher fact from fiction.