The NRLA says it supports the move which includes limiting possession hearings to cases in which tenants have been involved in anti-social behaviour
Landlords have welcomed resumption of evictions, saying it strikes the correct balance between the needs of landlords and those of tenants affected by the pandemic. But they have also called for both sides to be given more financial help to make it through the pandemic, and a mooted second lockdown.
The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) says it supports the framework put in place by the judiciary and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
This includes limiting possession hearings to cases in which tenants have been involved in anti-social behaviour, domestic violence or who stopped paying their months before Covid landed in the UK.
After a six month ban on repossessions it is important that landlords can start to take action to tackle the most serious cases, says Ben Beadle.
We continue to encourage landlords to work with their tenants to sustain tenancies wherever possible, making use of the guidance we have prepared. To support this, the Government should follow the example of Scotland and Wales and develop a stronger financial package to help tenants to pay off rent arrears built since the lockdown started, he said.
He said, ministers also need to address the crisis faced by those landlords who have rented their homes out whilst working elsewhere.
The six months’ notice required in such circumstances freezes them out of accessing their own homes, effectively making them homeless, Beadle said.
Tenant organisations including Acorn, Generation Rent and Shelter have not welcomed the resumption of evictions.
Generation Rent says it reckons there are 55,000 household who were given notice to quit before the extension of the notice period was announced by Housing secretary Robert Jenrick on 28th August, and who now face potential possession action by their landlord or letting agency.
