In response to an urgent question by Shadow Housing Secretary Thangam Debbonaire, Housing Minister Chris Pincher MP announced last week that the pause on possession proceedings on rental properties ends on 23rd August. This is an important step towards the resumption of normal life and allowing landlords and tenants access to justice.
Conscious that the sector is still raising significant concerns about a backlog in the Courts, he reminded the House of Commons that prioritising cases is the job of the judiciary, but he believes it is important that serious and antisocial cases are heard in the Courts as soon as possible.
He said that the Government has been engaging with a working group convened by the Master of the Rolls which includes both tenant representatives and landlord bodies. An early outcome of their work is changes to the court rules of possession proceedings.
These rules will apply within the existing legislative framework from 23rd August.
It is important to note that Landlords seeking possession will need to set out relevant information about a tenant’s circumstances including information about the effect of the pandemic. This is designed to encourage landlords to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the tenants’ circumstances, prior to seeking possession.
The Government voiced their encouragement for rent repayment plans and for rent payment flexibility. The Housing Minister stated that current arrangements requiring landlords to give at least 3 months’ notice of their intention to seek possession, will continue until at least 30 September, in line with the measures set out in the Coronavirus Act 2020.
Renters have been provided some financial support during the pandemic and these arrangements are in addition to the Job Retention Scheme, additional funding to boost the welfare safety net, and raising the Local Housing Allowance rate to the 30th percentile.
In the longer term, the Government re-stated that they are committed to bringing forward both reforms designed to increase the security that tenants need and measures to strengthen the rights of landlords to regain their property when they need to do so. The legislation will be brought forward in due course.
George Sifonios, Managing Director at David Astburys Estate Agency in Crouch End said, “We are in a period of transition, we have landlords approaching us for property management services who have never used agents before because they are struggling to let their own properties.
“It is important for Landlords and tenants to stay well informed about all the new legislation which could affect them, and it is challenging to do that when they are not getting the right advice from a trusted agent like our agency.
“The positive news for both vendors and landlords is that the market is in a positive place and we at David Astburys are on course to have a record breaking year.”
David Astburys Estate Agents
Address 15 Park Road, Crouch End, London N8 8TE
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 8.30am – 7pm Sat: 10.00 – 5pm
Tel: 020 3000 6787
Email: crouchend@davidastburys.com
Website: www.davidastburys.com