Ban on Landlords Evicting Renters Extended by Two Months

A two-month extension to the ban on evicting renters during the coronavirus pandemic has been announced by the Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick.

There will be a suspension of new evictions of tenants in England and Wales until 23 August. This applies to privately-rented accommodation as well as social housing.

“Eviction hearings will not be heard in courts until the end of August and no-one will be evicted from their home this summer due to coronavirus,” tweeted Mr Jenrick.

Mr Jenrick described the support given to renters by the government during the COVID-19 pandemic as ‘unprecedented’. However, the move was played down as ‘only a stop-gap’ by housing charity Shelter.

Chief executive of Shelter, Polly Neate, said: "The government has reset the clock on the evictions ban, buying the families who were only weeks away from losing their homes a vital stay of execution.

"The ban hasn't stopped people who've lost their jobs during this pandemic from racking up rent arrears. Even if they have a plan to pay them back, these debts will throw struggling renters straight back into the firing line of an automatic eviction as soon as the ban does lift.  

"It's critical that Robert Jenrick uses this extension wisely to change the law and properly protect renters.”

Chief executive of Citizens Advice, Dame Gillian Guy, said: "Simply extending the pause of repossession is a sticking plaster not a cure. People who have fallen behind on rent arrears and those who have been furloughed or lost their jobs will need the security of proper reform to the rules governing evictions.

"We look forward to working with the government in the coming weeks on changes to make sure they keep their promise, that no renter should lose their home because of coronavirus.”

The original three-month ban on landlords evicting renters was announced as part of emergency legislation back in March. The ban will end on 25 June, after which the new ban will take effect.

The move will benefit ‘millions of renters’ according to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has urged the government "to set out its plans for the market at the end of this one-time extension”.

Ben Beadle, the chief executive, said: "A failure to do so will cause serious damage to the private rented sector as a whole. It will ultimately be tenants who suffer as they will find it increasingly difficult to find affordable housing if landlords do not have the confidence that they will get their properties back swiftly in legitimate circumstances.”