Suspension of new evictions for renters in England and Wales extended by 2 months in response to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

Work also underway on arrangements to ensure that judges have all the information necessary to make just decisions and that the most vulnerable tenants can get the help they need

The government has announced that the suspension of new evictions for renters in England and Wales is to extended by 2 months in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduced in March 2020 as part of a ‘radical package’ of measures to protect renters and landlords affected by coronavirus, the stay on evictions had been due to last for 3 months at which point the government had said that landlords and tenants would be expected to 'work together to establish an affordable repayment plan, taking into account tenants’ individual circumstances'.

However, announcing that the suspension is to be extended until 23 August 2020, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said today -

'We have provided an unprecedented package of support for renters during this pandemic. Today, I am announcing that the government's ban on evictions will be extended for another 2 months. That takes the moratorium on evictions to a total of 5 months.

Eviction hearings will not be heard in courts until the end of August and no-one will be evicted from their home this summer due to coronavirus.'

NB - the government says that the two-month extension will come into force on 25 June 2020, ensuring that there is no gap between the existing ban and the extension, and will also apply to 'homeowners, commercial and leasehold'.

In addition, the government said today that -

'Ministers are also working with the judiciary, legal representatives and the advice sector on arrangements, including new rules, which will mean that courts are better able to address the need for appropriate protection of all parties, including those shielding from coronavirus. This is to ensure that judges have all the information necessary to make just decisions and that the most vulnerable tenants can get the help they need.'

For more information, see Ban on evictions extended by 2 months to further protect renters from gov.uk