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Landlords welcome Eviction Ban end but want cash help for renters

Landlords have welcomed the government’s announcement to end the eviction ban and reduce the notice period required for the private rental sector.

The news came late yesterday afternoon in a surprise statement from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

However, the National Residential Landlords Association says there remains work to be done by the government.

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NRLA chief executive says: “Having operated under emergency conditions for over a year, today’s announcement from the Government is an important step in ensuring the sector’s recovery.

“It does nothing though to address the rent debt crisis. With the number of private tenants in arrears having increased threefold since lockdown measures started, more are at risk of losing their homes as restrictions ease. 

“We want to see tenancies sustained wherever possible and call on the Chancellor to step in and provide affected tenants with the financial support they need to pay off rent arrears built as a result of the pandemic.”

Yesterday’s announcement covered notice periods - previously extended to six months as an emergency measure during the pandemic - which will be set at four months from June 1. 

 

 

In addition the MHCLG confirmed that the current ban on bailiff-enforced evictions, introduced as an emergency measure during lockdown, will end on May 31. 

Bailiffs have for many months been asked not to carry out an eviction if anyone living in the property has Covid-19 symptoms or is self-isolating.

Activists’ group Generation Rent also called for cash help, with group director Baroness Alicia Kennedy saying: “When 353,000 private renters are in arrears, and the government still has no plan to clear their debts, loosening the restrictions on evictions is reckless. 

“Renters who have lost income as a result of the pandemic are already struggling to find a home they can afford – if the government doesn’t intervene, thousands of homeless families could be turning to their council for help. We can’t build back better without financial support for the renters who have been hit hardest. 

"The government must introduce a Covid Rent Debt Fund, allowing renters to clear their debts and landlords to claim for up to 80 per cent of income lost.”

Full details of the government announcement are here.

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    "The government must introduce a Covid Rent Debt Fund, allowing renters to clear their debts and landlords to claim for up to 80 per cent of income lost.”

    Fully endorse this when HMRC can claim for only 80% of tax, until then I want 100% of rent lost.

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    Why should landlords even be down 20%?

    The Baroness complains the Government still has no plan to clear rent dodgers' debts. What about the dodgers coming up with their own plan - like living within their means, mitigating any further escalation in debt by moving somewhere cheaper or in with friends and relatives?

    Generation Rant should take its lead from several generations past, who typically lived with friends or relatives until they could afford to buy or rent their own place. I was born in the spare bedroom of my granny's council house, where we lived until I was about 3.

    Why should this generation be treated differently?

     
  • Matthew Payne

    If there is the tenuous 80% link to the furlough scheme, then landlords should still expect 100% of their rent. The government supported businesses with 80% of staff salaries, just as they may do now with tenants and 80% of their rent. Business picked up the remaining 20% of the salary bill, their staff, their responsibility. Shoudnt tenants do the same if a Covid Rent Debt Fund was created? With such a massive bail out, pay their remaining 20%? Their rent, their responsibility.

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