HOW DOES EVICTION WORK?

FOR the past month I’ve been campaigning with Resolver and other consumer rights specialists to extend the Government’s ban on evictions.

Many people may find themselves facing a perfect storm as redundancies are announced, payment holidays end and Government support expires.

Both Scotland and Northern Ireland have recognised this and extended the ban on evictions to 2021. Britain and Wales currently still face losing this vital protection.

The ban ends on August 23, but there’s no reason it can’t be re-introduced – so write to your MP!

In the meantime, here’s my guide for people worried about landlord and tenant disputes.

What can I do if I’m worried about being evicted?

■ IF you are behind on your rent, or your contact is due to end soon, get in touch with your landlord or letting agents now so you can pre-empt what might happen later.

■ IF you’ve entered into a payment plan with your landlord or they’ve agreed to defer payments, make sure you have it in writing. If you’re worried about not being able to make payments, speak to the landlord now and see if you can agree terms and timescales.

■ UNIVERSAL Credit has had a bad rep but it’s there and essential if you’ve been made unemployed and the sooner you apply the better.

■ PAYMENT for rent goes direct to you, not your landlord, so you don’t need to tell them. However, if you’re applying to EVICTION procedures depend rent a property, you may need on whether you are a private or extra references and some a council/housing association landlords are refusing to take tenant. But in brief: people on benefits.

■ THE landlord must ■ IF it looks like give three months’ you’ll be asked to notice before leave or might get applying to court. priced out, don’t

■ EXPECT a backlog, delay, shop around but with emergency now. There are some legislation and rules quite good deals being drafted, we post-lockdown may see ‘fast-track’ See if the landlord but the longer you processes to deal will agree a new leave it, the more with disputes. payment schedule competition there

■ PRIVATE renters will be. don’t stand much chance Work out what you’ll need for in court if their landlord has a deposit and the cost of followed the correct process, moving your stuff. though council or housing ■ IF you’re in financial association tenants may be difficulties, speak to free debt able to appeal. charity Stepchange for help

■ IF your landlord got an with your creditors. They will eviction notice before the work out what you can afford lockdown your situation is the to pay and may help you free most severe. You need urgent up some cash to stay afloat. legal advice as bailiffs can start operating from 24 August

2020, though the landlord must still give two weeks’ notice before evicted.

Read our guide on your rights with links to the official guidance here: news.resolver. co.uk/evictions-and-whathappens-when-the-ban-ends/