“There is legislation that has gone under the radar,” says Tim Frome, Landlord Action’s Legal Director. “Everyone’s aware of the legal issues brought about by the pandemic that people are facing on a day-to-day basis. But the government has still been passing other lettings legislation.”

The situation with Covid-19 is rapidly changing and this article will continue to be updated throughout. For the latest guidelines, please refer to gov.uk.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been extended until 30 April 2021, with furloughed employees to receive 80% of their current salary for hours not worked, in order to support businesses as much of the country is put under Tier 3 restrictions. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has also confirmed that he would be extending the government-guaranteed Covid-19 business loan schemes until the end of March.

This situation is rapidly changing and this article will continue to be updated throughout. For the latest guidelines, please refer to gov.uk.

Letting agencies can continue to operate and viewings and house moves can take place during the second national lockdown, which begins on 5 November and will continue until at least 2 December. Under the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 4) Regulations 2020, activities in connection with the purchase, sale, letting or rental of a residential property have been made exceptions to the "stay at home" guidance.

Bailiffs have agreed not to enforce court orders against tenants living in areas where Tier 2 and Tier 3 Covid-19 restrictions are in place. Eviction proceedings can still take place in the courts.

Charlotte Campbell knows that agents aren’t one size fits all and believes agency qualifications shouldn’t be, either. That’s why Charlotte, who is co-hosting a Goodlord webinar on empowering your staff, set up The Able Agent a year ago, to offer an alternative, online training option and qualification for estate and letting agents.

The Landlord’s guide to right to rent checks sets out the details of the Home Office’s online right to rent check service, launched in November 2020, in addition to confirming how visitors from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United States with biometric passports (also known as “B5JSSK nationals”) can prove their right to rent. The government has since also announced the "View and Prove" system for EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens.

This article was published on 24 September 2020. Although we endeavour to keep our Covid-19 content as up to date as possible, the situation is rapidly changing, so please ensure you refer to gov.uk for the latest advice and information.

A six-month Job Support Scheme will be introduced on 1 November to help protect jobs in businesses facing lower demand over winter and provide support after the furlough scheme ends. The new scheme is one of several measures announced by the Chancellor as part of the Winter Economy Plan to support workers and businesses, which includes extending the grant scheme for self-employed workers, tax payment deferrals, extending applications and introducing flexible repayments for the coronavirus loan schemes.

Continued vigilance in the face of fast-changing travel restrictions and mandatory quarantine periods will be necessary from agencies in the coming months in order to protect their staff and customers alike and help to prevent a second wave of Covid-19 in the UK.

HMO management is an opportunity for letting agencies to drive more revenue, says the director of a lettings agency that’s established itself as an expert in the area. Neil Baldock, who co-founded Chelmsford-based Charles David Casson with his brother, Matthew, says the pair saw a niche in the market for HMO management after the law changed two years ago, which meant all properties with five or more people living in them had to be licensed.  

This article was updated on 3 December 2021. Pease ensure you refer to gov.uk for the latest advice and information.

The Government has updated its guidance on possession proceedings during Covid-19. The guidance highlights that, as the ban on evictions has ended and notice periods have reverted to pre-pandemic levels, "all orders can now be enforced where the landlords have a valid warrant of possession." However, bailiffs will still need to provide at least 14 day notice of eviction, and they then won't be able to carry out that eviction if anyone in the house is self isolating in line with government requirements. The bailiffs are prioritising cases according to the date the warrant of possession was issued, with exemptions for cases involving anti-social behaviour or squatting.