Tenants will be spared eviction for 3 months, pledges minister
TENANTS who cannot afford their rent will be protected from eviction during the coronavirus crisis, ministers announced yesterday.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said the Government will introduce emergency legislation to stop evictions from social or private accommodation.
Landlords will also be protected by the extension of a three-month payment holiday to buy-to-let mortgages.
The changes were announced after the Government was criticised for announcing measures to help those with mortgages, but not those who rent.
Emergency legislation will now be brought forward as a priority so that landlords will not be able to evict tenants during a three-month period.
Landlords will also be protected because the three-month mortgage holiday announced on Tuesday will be extended to landlords whose tenants are unable to pay rent because of coronavirus.
At the end of the three-months, landlords and tenants will be expected to work together to establish an affordable repayment plan, taking into account tenants’ individual circumstances, ministers said.
Mr Jenrick said: ‘No renter who has lost income due to coronavirus will be forced out of their home, nor will any landlord face unmanageable debts.
‘These are extraordinary times and renters and landlords alike are of course worried about paying their rent and mortgage.
‘Which is why we are urgently introducing emergency legislation to protect tenants in social and private accommodation from an eviction process being started. These changes will protect all renters and private landlords ensuring everyone gets the support they need at this very difficult time.’
A Government source said: ‘If buy-to-let landlords have the security of a mortgage holiday then they should not be in a position where they have to put pressure on tenants.
‘We are also announcing that those who have benefited from a Government-backed Help to Buy equity loan will be offered interest payment holidays if they are struggling to pay due to coronavirus.’
The Government will also issue guidance which asks landlords to show compassion and allow tenants who are affected to remain in their homes wherever possible.
The National Housing Feder
‘Extraordinary times’
ation and Local Government Association welcomed the support for renters and made clear that no one should be evicted because of the coronavirus.
This important step on buyto-let mortgages ensures parity of support, further to the announcement yesterday that the Government made for private mortgage holders. The move was welcomed by homelessness charity Shelter, which said the measures would come as a ‘great relief to many’.
Chief executive Polly Neate said: ‘The Government has done the right thing. There are 20 million renters who will benefit from this protection – which is a vital emergency measure to keep people safe and in their homes.
‘Without this decisive action, tens of thousands of renters would have been faced with eviction in the coming months, while potentially trying to isolate and protect themselves and others.’
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: ‘Landlord groups welcomes government support. We recognise the exceptional circumstances and we will work collaboratively with government to ensure these measures protect landlords and tenants.’