New protections for renters during restrictions

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced that renters will be protected during the national restrictions, with no bailiff enforcement action.

Measures, including the pause on evictions starting in December, mean evictions will not be enforced until the 11 January 2021 at the earliest, supporting individuals and families who have found themselves in financial difficulty through no fault of their own.

This builds on protections announced earlier this year, including six month notice periods meaning renters now served notice can stay in their homes until May 2021, with time to find alternative support or accommodation.

Jenrick said: “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 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 £180 million of government funding for Discretionary Housing Payments for councils to distribute to support renters with housing costs.