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Government extends evictions ban by two months
The government ban on evictions for social and private renters has been extended by two months.
Tenants in England and Wales will now be protected from evictions until 23 August, bringing the total length of the moratorium to five months.
Making the announcement, housing secretary Robert Jenrick said that no one will be evicted from their home because of coronavirus this summer.
Ministers have been under pressure to act amid warnings of a potential surge in homelessness when the ban was initially scheduled to be lifted on 25 June.
Many people have lost jobs or income as a result of economic shocks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, making it harder for them to keep up with the rent.
Legislation extending the notice period for possessions from two months to three was passed in March, while the courts also suspended all eviction hearings for at least 90 days.
That legislation will now remain in effect until “at least September”, the government said in a press release.
The Civil Procedure Rule Committee, which sets rules for non-criminal courts in England and Wales, has also agreed to extend the pause on possession proceedings by two months.
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Mr Jenrick said: “We have provided an unprecedented package of support for renters during this pandemic.
“Today, I am announcing that the government’s ban on evictions will be extended for another two months. That takes the moratorium on evictions to a total of five months.
“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.”
The government said it also working on new court rules to ensure that “vulnerable renters” such as those shielding from the virus are safe and can get legal representation when evictions resume.
It insisted today that landlords and tenants “work together and exhaust all possible options” including “flexible payment plans” where arrears occur because of the pandemic before cases end up in court.
As part of the announcement, it was also revealed that the Master of the Rolls had convened a judiciary-led cross-sector working group to consider and address matters affecting litigants and the courts when the ban is lifted in August. This group has the support of the housing secretary and will engage with law centres, legal aid agencies and charities.
Mr Jenrick previously announced plans for a pre-action protocol that would compel landlords to agree a repayment plan with tenants in rent arrears before starting eviction proceedings.
Justice secretary Robert Buckland said: “Extending this ban will give people invaluable security in these turbulent times and work continues at pace to ensure vulnerable renters remain protected long after the ban ends.”
But Polly Neate, chief executive of housing charity Shelter, said that the ban extension is “only a stopgap” for people continuing to rack up rent arrears.
Judges must be given new powers to halt evictions proceedings against people who have fallen into arrears because of the pandemic to avoid “a tidal wave of homelessness after the summer”, she added.
