Government confirms that current ban on bailiff-enforced evictions in England will end on 31 May 2021

However, MHCLG also announces that longer notice periods will apply for most tenants until at least the end of September 2021

The government has today confirmed that the current ban on bailiff-enforced evictions in England will end on 31 May 2021.

Alongside an announcement that longer notice periods will apply for most tenants until at least the end of September 2021, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said -

'Thanks to the success of the vaccine programme and the public efforts to suppress the virus, the nation is now progressing cautiously through the Roadmap, and emergency measures for renters introduced during the pandemic will be brought in line with this ...

The current ban on bailiff-enforced evictions, introduced as an emergency measure during lockdown, will end on 31 May.'

NB - MHCLG adds however that bailiffs have been asked not to carry out an eviction if anyone living in the property has Covid-19 symptoms or is self-isolating.

In relation to the continuation of longer notice periods, MHCLG says that -

'As part of a phased approach, notice periods - previously extended to 6 months as an emergency measure during the pandemic - will be set at four months from 1 June. This will offer tenants continued protection throughout Step 3 and into Step 4, which will begin from 21 June at the earliest. Subject to the public health advice and progress with the Roadmap, notice periods will return to pre-pandemic levels from 1 October.'

The changes to notice periods are provided for by the Coronavirus Act 2020 (Residential Tenancies: Protection from Eviction) (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 (SI.No.564/2021) that were laid before Parliament today and come into force from 31 May 2021.

For more information, see Support for renters continues with longer notice periods from gov.uk