A Technical Consultation & the Renters Reform Bill
On the 7th December 2022, the Government announced there will be a technical consultation on the consequential amendments to homelessness legislation as a result of the Renters Reform Bill, namely, the removal of section 21 evictions, assured shorthold tenancies and fixed-term tenancies.
The consultation will close at 11:45pm on 25 January 2023 and provides anyone with a vested interest to put forward their opinions on the provisions that have set out in the Renters Reform Bill.
For those who remain unaware, the Renters Reform Bill will be the vehicle for the abolition of Section 21 and will signify one of the most notable shifts in Landlord & Tenant Law since 2004.
Whilst there is a great deal of reference being made to tenants being evicted when they are served with a Section 21, the route to being evicted is a lot more complicated than serving notice. The notice advises the tenant that Vacant Possession is required and that should the tenant fail to vacate, court proceedings could begin to obtain possession. Only if the tenant fails to vacate once a court order is in place, will eviction take place. An clearly, on the basis of the notice served, the eviction would be a ‘no fault’ eviction; no grounds would have been relied upon unlike the section 8 notice.
Housing Secretary extends support for renters during pandemic
Renters will continue to be supported during the ongoing national lockdown restrictions, with an extension to the ban on bailiff evictions.
Renters protected with ban on bailiff enforced evictions extended until 31 March
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Exemptions in place for the most serious cases
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Part of a wider package of support for renters during the pandemic
Renters will continue to be supported during the ongoing national lockdown restrictions, with an extension to the ban on bailiff evictions, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick announced today (14 February 2021).
The ban on bailiff evictions - which was introduced at the start of the pandemic - has been extended for another 6 weeks - until 31 March - with measures kept under review in line with the latest public health advice.
Exemptions remain in place for the most serious circumstances that cause the greatest strain on landlords as well as other residents and neighbours, such as illegal occupation, anti-social behaviour and arrears of 6 months’ rent or more.
The measures are part of a wide-ranging package of support the government has provided to protect renters from the economic impact of the pandemic, including supporting businesses to pay staff through the furlough scheme and strengthening the welfare safety-net by billions of pounds.
Landlords are also required to give 6-month notice periods to tenants before starting possession proceedings, except in the most serious circumstances, meaning that most renters now served notice can stay in their homes until at least August 2021, with time to find alternative support or accommodation.
For those renters who require additional support, there is an existing £180 million of government funding for Discretionary Housing Payments for councils to distribute to support renters with housing costs.
Announcement from Robert Jenrick regarding Support for Renters and the Homeless
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has today announced extra support to house rough sleepers across all councils in England.
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Ban on bailiff enforced evictions extended
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Confirmation of court support for landlords and renters and launch of mediation pilot
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Backed by an additional £10 million in funding, all councils in England are being asked to redouble their efforts to help accommodate all those currently sleeping rough and ensure they are swiftly registered with a GP, where they are not already.
This will ensure they can be protected from the virus and contacted to receive vaccinations in line with the priority groups outlined by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
Councils will also be asked to reach out again to those who have previously refused help, given rising infection rates and the colder winter months.
Renters will continue to be supported during the new national restrictions, with an extension to the ban on bailiff evictions for all but the most egregious cases for at least 6 weeks – until at least 21 February – with measures kept under review.
Chartered Institute of Housing 2020: Housing Minister's speech
Today’s speech from the Housing Minister at the Chartered Institute’s Housing 2020 Festival
Homelessness and evictions ban
Nearly 15,000 vulnerable people, including rough sleepers and the homeless, were housed in emergency accommodation at the start of this pandemic.
And we are building on these achievements through funding longer-term accommodation – 3,300 homes this year alone – along with tailored support so as few people as possible return to life on the streets.
Last month, we also announced additional protections for renters with a further stay on all housing possession proceedings in court.
That means that no action to progress new or existing claims for possession can be progressed for several weeks.
Thanks to new legislation we brought forward in August, landlords are also required to give 6 months’ notice to evict any tenant (private or social) – up from the 3 months required by the original provisions in the Coronavirus Act – except in the most serious of cases.
We also recognise that there are some occasions in which it is right that landlords should be able to start progressing cases quicker.