Government updates Covid-19 and renting guidance

The latest update from the UK Government provides new details on the following:

• ventilation and carrying out repairs and maintenance work
• clinically extremely vulnerable people and repairs and maintenance work
• reducing the risk of infection in shared accommodation, accommodation with shared facilities and overcrowded accommodation

The new guidance encourages parties to show flexibility in relation to rent payments and rent payment plans.  Landlords and tenants are also encouraged to pursue mediation where disputes over rent or other matters persist.

As part of the measures implemented following the stay on evictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government is also funding a mediation pilot integrated into the court process, which has been free for landlords and tenants to use since February 2021.

Currently, in cases where mediation has been unsuccessful landlords must provide tenants with a notice period of at least four months in most circumstances, including in cases where there are less than 4 months of unpaid rent. There are exemptions for the most serious cases including anti-social behaviour, no Right to Rent and fraud.

Notice periods for cases where there are less than four months of unpaid rent, will reduce to a notice period of two months from 1 August 2021.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (furlough) is in place until the end of September 2021, where employees will continue to receive 80 per cent of wages for hours not worked.

Where a landlord is concerned about their financial situation, they should discuss this directly with their lender.

The government guidance can be viewed by clicking here.