The UK
Government has announced that from 1 June 2021 notice periods in England that
are currently six months, will now be reduced to four months.
The current
ban on bailiff-enforced evictions, introduced as an emergency measure during
lockdown, will end on 31 May. As part of a phased approach through Step 3 and
Step 4 of the Roadmap, notice periods are being reduced, apart from the most
serious cases, which remain lower:
·
anti-social
behaviour (immediate to 4 weeks’ notice)
·
domestic
abuse in the social sector (2 to 4 weeks’ notice)
·
false
statement (2 to 4 weeks’ notice)
·
over
4 months’ accumulated rent arrears (4 weeks’ notice)
·
breach
of immigration rules ‘Right to Rent (2 weeks’ notice)
·
death
of a tenant (2 months’ notice)
Notice
periods for cases where there is less than four months' unpaid rent, will
reduce to two months’ notice from 1 August 2021. This is to support both
landlords and tenants and responds to the greater difference between COVID and
pre-COVID notice periods for rent arrears. The measures will also ensure
renters continue to be protected with longer notice periods for the coming
months while allowing landlords to access justice.
Subject to
the public health advice and progress with the Roadmap, notice periods will
return to pre-pandemic levels from 1 October 2021.
For more
information please contact Paul Barnes at Loveitts on 024 7622 8111.