Changes To Notice Periods In England From 1 October

Following the pandemic and the introduction of the Coronavirus Act 2020, the UK Government initially increased all notices to six months for most grounds (including Section 21 notices), with exemptions for certain serious cases. Since 1 June 2021 until 30 September 2021 notice periods must be at least four months in most circumstances apart from exemptions for the most serious cases. Notice periods for cases where there are less than four months of unpaid rent, reduced to two months’ notice from 1 August. Moving forward, the UK Government intend to retain the power to implement any similar measures again in the future should the public health situation worsen. Read more on the Propertymark website.

https://www.propertymark.co.uk/resource/changes-to-notice-periods-in-england-from-1-october.html 

Anger Over Evictions ‘Ban’ Which ‘Fails To Protect Tenants’

The new Coronavirus Bill confirmed that notice periods for eviction from rented housing will be lengthened from to three months once the law comes into force. For most renters this marks a one-month extension on the normal two-month notice period and will mean many could be forced out as early as June. It also does nothing to protect those who have already been served with a notice or receive one before the bill comes into force. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/anger-over-evictions-ban-which-fails-to-protect-tenants-65746

Minister Casts Doubt Over Higher Value Levy Date

Housing minister Gavin Barwell has admitted councils need “plenty of time” to prepare for the higher value asset levy, raisings doubt over whether it will be introduced from April next year as expected. The government was widely expected to implement the policy from April next year but detailed regulations required to implement the measure have not been published. A CLG civil servant also admitted that the Right to Buy extension has been delayed by the Brexit referendum vote. Speaking at a CLG committee session, Mr Barwell said the government has not made any decisions about when councils will be expected to make the payment but details of the “controversial policy” would require “quite a notice period” before being introduced. Read more on Inside Housing.