Citizens Advice
Should I allow gas inspectors in my house during the lockdown? Despite the complexities of Covid19, landlords continue to be legally mandated to perform all the scheduled safety checks and provide all the gas and electricity certificates at the start of tenancies.
The government has released guidance for landlords and tenants to address this matter.
Whether you are self-isolating or not, if an issue threatens the lives of people in the house, then repairs should be done.
If you are self-isolating, then special arrangements must be made to do those repairs.
It is important to continue doing gas safety checks because they keep people safe.
If you are extremely vulnerable, you should inform your landlord to make sure they take the necessary social distancing measures.
If it’s necessary to perform repairs and checks, landlords still have the powers and tools to access properties if tenants are not selfisolating.
See our website, www. citizensadvicebanes.org.uk, where you can use our webform to leave us a message 24/7.
How can I prepare for the lifting of eviction restrictions?
Many people who struggle financially may be worried about being evicted once restrictions are lifted on the 31st of March.
Yet, there are some things that you can do to improve your situation.
First of all, you should have a conversation with your letting agent or landlord.
They might understand your situation and agree to a late payment or reduction in rent. You should also have a look at what benefits are available to you.
If the landlord threatens you with eviction, it is important to know your rights as a tenant.
Evictions can be enforced only with a court order that is to be carried out by bailiffs.
Before the eviction ban ends, you can still get evicted if you haven’t paid your rent for six months or you have been displaying antisocial behaviour.
If those two conditions are not met, then, you cannot be evicted before the 31st of March.
After this date, landlords will have to send people a notice.
Tenants usually have the right to a six-month notice before any court action can be taken by the landlord.
It is important to try and solve your situation before the eviction ban is lifted.
If you need advice regarding any issue around rent arrears and being evicted, do not hesitate to contact the Citizens Advice - Bath & North East Somerset Adviceline on 0344 848 7919, Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 2.30pm.
Is an IVA right for you? Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVA) are a form of agreement between you and your creditors to pay your debts over time.
However, there are other ways to deal with debt and there are benefits and drawbacks to IVAS.
In a case with more than one creditor, IVAS are set up by insolvency practitioners who handle the paperwork and discussions with the creditors so you don’t have to.
The insolvency practitioner will help you create a repayment plan that is agreed to by the creditors.
However, the insolvency practitioners may take a large fee for their role in this.
After agreeing on the IVA, you will pay the practitioner a lump sum, monthly payments or a mix of both and they will pay the agreed sums among the creditors.
IVAS are time-limited, usually to five or six years, and are legallybinding, so creditors cannot chase you for your debts after they have agreed to one.
However, they can create risks for you in other ways.
You may have to sell possessions (such as a car) to pay your debts, which may impact your job, and it may reach the point of having to remortgage your house.
Also, IVAS negatively impact your credit score, which might make your financial situation harder in the future.
Call us on 0344 848 7919 to assist, or through The Community Well Being Hub partnership on 0300 247 0050.
❝ If the landlord threatens you with eviction, it is important to know your rights as a tenant.
Citizens Advice Bath and North East Somerset is a charity – if you can support, donate, or volunteer , please email us on les.redwood@ cab-banes.org.