Serving notice on your tenant after 1st June 2021

As of 1 June 2021 a landlord must give their tenant a 4 month notice period.  This has been reduced from the 6 month notice period announced by the Government as an emergency measure during the COVID pandemic lockdown.

The Government has also now abolished the ban on baillif-enforced evictions.  There will, however, be a backlog and you should expect the process to take longer than usual.

There are some serious cases which have lower notice periods, and these are as follows:

• Death of the tenant - 2 months' notice period
• 4 months of accummulated rent arrears - 4 weeks' notice period
• Anti-social behaviour - from immediate to 4 weeks' notice
• Domestic abuse in the social sector - 2 to 4 weeks' notice period
• Breach of immigration rules under 'Right to Rent' scheme - 2 weeks' notice period
• False statement - 2 to 4 weeks' notice period

As part of the Government's phased approach through steps 3 & 4 of the easing of lockdown roadmap, notice periods will continue to be reduced.  As from 1 August 2021, for cases of rent arrears which are less than 4 months of unpaid rent, the notice will reduce to 2 months.  Then, subject to the progress of the Government's roadmap in accordance with public health advice, notice periods will return to pre-pandemic levels from 1 October 2021.

Housing Minister, Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP said, "As COVID restrictions are eased in line with the Roadmap out of lockdown, we will ensure tenants continue to be supported with crucial financial support, which will remain place including the furlough scheme and uplift to Universal Credit.  Local Housing Allowance rates are being maintained at their increased level in cash terms, and the government has also extended the £20 per week uplift in Universal Credit until the end of September."

You can see all of the grounds for possession of a rental property under a Section 8 notice HERE and if you have any questions, please get in touch.