ARLA Propertymark has expressed its pleasure that the eviction ban, already extended by two months, will now expire at the end of August.

The announcement came through a junior minister from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government – Lord Greeenhalgh – speaking in the Lords yesterday. 

David Cox, ARLA chief executive, says: “We’re very pleased to hear that from 24 August courts will be re-opening and can begin to process the backlog of possession cases. 

“We have previously expressed our concern to the Secretary of State for Justice that there could be as many as 62,000 ‘business as usual’ landlord possession claims to be processed across England and Wales so having clarity on when these can be handled is extremely encouraging for landlords and the sector.”

And Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, says of the news: “The minister’s comments provide greater certainty for the rental market.

“We continue to work hard with landlords and tenants to sustain tenancies wherever possible. In the vast majority of cases this is happening.

“It is vital however that swift action can be taken against those tenants committing anti-social behaviour or domestic violence.  We are calling also for priority to be given to cases where possession orders were granted prior to lockdown or where rent arrears have nothing to do with the COVID pandemic.”