Following on from our Breaking News email at the weekend I
thought I’d follow up with a quick 2-minute read updating landlords about what
the new extension on evicting tenants means for them and how we’re helping them
avoid the worst-case scenario.

On Friday it was announced by the Government there is now an
extension on the ban on landlords evicting tenants in England and Wales.

The new ruling means landlords will have to legally wait
until 20 September to begin proceedings using the eviction process.

Landlords will now have to give tenants six months’ notice
of eviction, before the pandemic struck it was usually two months.

It was a last-minute measure by the Ministry of Housing,
Communities and Local Government as the original deadline for evictions to
begin was today, Monday 24 August.

The original regulations were put into place back in March
shortly after the Covid-19 lockdown began. It was a move to protect genuine
cases of tenants struggling to pay their rent due to the outbreak.

Speaking to the BBC on Friday, Housing Secretary Robert
Jenrick, said: “I know this year has been challenging, and all of us are still
living with the effects of Covid-19. That is why I am announcing a further
four-week ban on evictions, meaning no renters will have been evicted for six
months.

“I am also increasing protections for renters – six-month
notice periods must be given to tenants, supporting renters over winter.

“However, it is right that the most egregious cases, for
example, those involving anti-social behaviour or domestic abuse perpetrators,
begin to be heard in court again. So, when courts reopen, landlords will once
again be able to progress these priority cases.”

The final part of his statement was notable for landlords
already under pressure. It means the prioritisation of the most serious cases,
including those landlords who have not received rent for over a year.

At CWB Property we’ve always believed and advised our
landlords that taking eviction action is a last resort.

Over the past five months, we’ve been focussing on proven
techniques to reduce the risk of landlords and tenants having to go through the
stress, cost and anxiety of the eviction process.

We’ve been:

·
Keeping in regular contact with tenants to spot
and help if possible, with any affordability issues.

·
Helping our landlords understand any rent
insurance policies they have in place.

·
Talking with tenants about their legal
responsibilities, which have remained the same during the lockdown and beyond.

·
Working with landlords and tenants to come up
with acceptable payment plans if necessary.

There are several other things we’ve been
doing behind the scenes as we work hard to avoid the worst-case scenario. But
we are fully prepared and ready if it does get to that point.

If you are a landlord and have questions
around what the eviction ban extension means to you, call us, and one of our
lettings’ experts will be on hand to answer them.

Thanks for reading.