Government updates Covid guidance for private rental sector

The government has updated its guidance for agents, landlords and tenants to explain the possession action process in the county courts in England and Wales has been updated.

This brings the guidance into line with broader government lockdown relaxation policies following the move to ‘Step 4’ of the roadmap on Monday of this week. 

The information coincides with Propertymark’s best practice guidance, and the key government changes concern ventilation and carrying out repairs and maintenance work, clinically extremely vulnerable people and repairs and maintenance work, and reducing the risk of infection in shared accommodation, accommodation with shared facilities, and overcrowded accommodation.

Key dates to remember are that from August 1 2021, the notice period for cases where there are less than four months of unpaid rent, will further reduce to two months’ notice, and that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - aka the furlough scheme - is in place until the end of September 2021, with employees continuing to receive 80 per cent of wages for hours not worked.

The revised guidance can seen here. 

Timothy Douglas, Propertymark campaigns and policy manager, comments: “Whilst England has now moved to post-lockdown arrangements, it remains important to provide reassurance to clients and staff alike, identifying and understanding how to continue to reduce the risk of catching or spreading COVID-19. The Propertymark guidance released ahead of restriction changes is aligned with the updated UK Government announcements and we will continue to work with the Ministry of Housing and our members to provide clear and timely communications.”