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Warning to landlords over eviction paperwork change

Landlords are being warned of an urgent change to the arrears process thanks to the launch of the government’s Breathing Space initiative.

From today landlords, agents and solicitors must include details of the Breathing Space scheme within documentation when seeking to gain possession, or risk the eviction being rejected.

The initiative - formally called the Breathing Space Moratorium and Mental Health Crisis Moratorium) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 - pauses enforcement action on individuals from creditors including letting agents.It freezes charges, fees and certain interest on qualifying debts for up to 60 days. 

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In these circumstances it means landlords must put on hold any action being taken in relation to rent arrears (including court action) for as long as the Breathing Space lasts; and a Section 8 notice cannot be issued for rent arrears (grounds 8,10 & 11) but can on any other available grounds.

Any Section 8 notices issued and served on a tenant from today must include details of the Breathing Space scheme.

ARLA Propertymark, the lettings trade group, says landlords who sent out notices late last week should be aware they may not be deemed served until today.

That means they will be invalid without the new information. In this case, notices should be re-served as soon as the new form Section 8 notice is available.

Creditors such as landlords will now be notified by The Insolvency Service when a debt has entered a Bretahing Space moratorium. Creditors will need to prepare to receive notifications from the Insolvency Service and process them in order to implement the protections.

Propertymark policy adviser Mark Hayward said over the weekend: “The changes introduced are to allow those struggling financially to have a limited time in which to seek advice and formulate a plan to move forward.  The scheme will have a large impact on the current processes followed by agents and landlords when taking action against rent arrears, and it is now hugely important that those dealing with rent debt are aware of the new scheme and the changes in working it will bring.”

The government has issued its formal information on the change here.

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