Updated Notices for Coronavirus

*UPDATED 13th May 2021*

The UK Government has published new rules for possession in England from 1st June 2021, marking the first step in ending emergency measures.

The current restrictions will be tapering down – with an end to the ban on enforcement of possession, and default notice periods reducing for both Section 8 and Section 21 from six to four months.

The announcement today outlines:

From 1st June 2021

Enforcement of possession by county court bailiffs and high court enforcement officers will be allowed in all cases, although they will be asked not to enforce where a tenant is self isolating or has Covid-19 symptoms.

Any notice periods currently set at six months – for both Section 8 and Section 21 – will reduce to four months, with ground 7 (death of a tenant) and 7B (Right to Rent breach) reducing to pre-Covid levels.

The definition of ‘serious rent arrears’ – which enables access to a four week notice period under Section 8 grounds 8, 10 and 11 – will reduce from six months’ to four months’ rent.

From 1st August 2021

The notice period for ‘non-serious’ arrears – i.e. less than four months arrears – will reduce to two months’ notice.

From 1st October 2021

All extended notice periods will revert to pre-Covid levels, for both Section 8 and Section 21.

 

Make sure you use the latest notice template, you can find them on this government webpage