Government announces ‘radical package’ of measures to protect renters and landlords affected by coronavirus

No renter who has lost income due to coronavirus will be forced out of their home, nor will any landlord face unmanageable debts

The government has announced a 'radical package' of measures to protect renters and landlords affected by coronavirus (COVID-19).

Setting out the government's plans, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said -

'The government is clear – no renter who has lost income due to coronavirus will be forced out of their home, nor will any landlord face unmanageable debts.

These are extraordinary times and renters and landlords alike are of course worried about paying their rent and mortgage. Which is why we are urgently introducing emergency legislation to protect tenants in social and private accommodation ...'

Designed to 'ensure that everyone gets the support they need at this very difficult time', the government says that emergency legislation will mean that -

• social and private landlords will not be able to start proceedings to evict tenants for at least a three-month period; and
• landlords will be protected with the extension of the three-month mortgage payment holiday to Buy to Let mortgages.

NB - at the end of the three-month period, the government says that landlords and tenants will be expected to work together to establish an affordable repayment plan, taking into account tenants’ individual circumstances.

In addition, the government says that - 

• it has worked with the Master of the Rolls to widen the ‘pre-action protocol’ on possession proceedings, to include private renters and to strengthen its remit; and
• it will issue guidance to asks landlords to show compassion and to allow tenants affected by coronavirus to remain in their homes wherever possible. 

For more information, see Complete ban on evictions and additional protection for renters from gov.uk

Stop press (22 March 2020) - the Welsh Government has today announced that it has agreed that the measures being developed by the UK government to suspend evictions from social and private rented accommodation will also apply to tenants in Wales.