Keats Lettings Support Landlords and Tenants as Eviction Ban Ends

At Keats Haslemere, our lettings team is supporting landlords and tenants as they navigate through these challenging times. While the eviction ban is officially over, notice periods have been extended to six months. We encourage all our landlords to work with tenants to sustain tenancies wherever possible.

The government has set out new rules for evictions and as of today, Monday 21 September 2020, cases of extreme arrears built before lockdown, anti-social behaviour and domestic violence will be prioritised by the courts.

Meanwhile, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) and ARLA Propertymark have called on the government not to back track on lifting the ban so landlords can act against the most serious issues.

Rita Tinney, Keats Director said: “We work closely with our landlords and tenants and can assist should any issues arise now the eviction ban has ended. Our team is up to date with the new measures and protections being introduced by government and we can provide advice as and when requested.”

Meanwhile Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, issued a statement welcoming the ban’s end.

He commented: “After a six month ban on repossessions it is important that landlords can start to take action to tackle the most serious cases. This includes those where tenants are committing anti-social behaviour or domestic violence and situations where rent arrears were building before lockdown and have nothing to do with Covid-19.

“The framework put in place by the judiciary and the government largely strikes the right balance between the needs of landlords in such situations and those of tenants affected by the pandemic.

“We continue to encourage landlords to work with their tenants to sustain tenancies wherever possible, making use of the guidance we have prepared. To support this the government should follow the example of Scotland and Wales and develop a stronger financial package to help tenants to pay off rent arrears built since the lockdown started.

“Ministers also need to address the crisis faced by those landlords who have rented their homes out whilst working elsewhere. The six months’ notice required in such circumstances freezes them out of accessing their own homes, effectively making them homeless.”