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No evictions until January 11 aside from extreme cases

The government has formally announced a pause in evictions in England until January 11 at the earliest.

The only exceptions to this will be what the government calls “the most egregious cases”including where tenants have demonstrated anti-social behaviour or are the perpetrator of domestic abuse in social housing, and the landlord rightly would like to re-let their property to another tenant. 

Large scale arrears accumulated before the Coronavirus will also be an appropriate reason for an eviction to go ahead. 

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Courts will remain open throughout the lockdown with the COVID-safe rules and procedures introduced in September. 

These include the strict prioritisation of cases, such as those involving anti-social behaviour and other crimes. 

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick says: “We have already taken unprecedented action to support renters during the pandemic including introducing a six month notice period and financial support to help those struggling to pay their rent.

“We are now going further by protecting renters from eviction during the new national restrictions [lockdown] and throughout the Christmas period – with a pause on bailiff activity other than in the most serious circumstances, such as anti-social behaviour or fraud.

“Striking the right balance between helping tenants in need while ensuring landlords have access to justice in the most serious cases.

For those renters who require additional support, there is an existing £180m of government funding for Discretionary Housing Payments for councils to distribute to support renters with housing costs.

“Whilst national restrictions apply, the only circumstances where these protections do not apply are illegal occupation, fraud, anti-social behaviour, eviction of domestic abuse perpetrators in social housing; where a property is unoccupied following the death of a tenant. We also intend to introduce an exemption for extreme pre-Covid rent arrears.”

  • Mark Wilson

    If you read the post regarding Nationwide, I wouldn't be surprised to see them supporting the ban!


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    So that’s the sale of my house stuffed then. Thanks, CONservatives.

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    We keep hearing about forthcoming exemptions for egregious cases but they never materialise. If Buckland , Jenrick or Johnson were losing money because of this, there would be no hesitation. I'm sick of hearing campaigners raging about nasty old landlords, without acknowledging the fact that their demands are protecting downright thieves.

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    One more thing. The aforementioned campaigners are too spineless to react when told about their folly. They haven't got the integrity to face their victims. These are the people who have the government's ear. Are you listening Jenrick, Buckland? Are any of you listening? Are you going to admit responsibility when the lettings market is all but destroyed. Are you going to explain this to the genuine would-be tenants.

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