This article was updated on 30 March 2020. Although we endeavour to keep our coronavirus (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.

The government has issued guidance for letting agents, landlords, and tenants on managing house moves and repairs during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

This article was last updated on 1 June 2020. Although we endeavour to keep our coronavirus (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.

The government is making changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. From 1 July 2020, businesses can bring back furloughed employees on a part-time basis. From August 2020, the level of government grant provided through the will be slowly tapered. That means that for June and July the government will continue to pay 80% of people’s salaries. In the following months, businesses will be asked to contribute a "modest share" of their employees' wages. The scheme will close to new entrants on 30 June, with the last three-week furloughs before that point commencing on 10 June.

As Government guidelines shift to accommodate the economic pressures of the Coronavirus pandemic, property technology company Goodlord have updated their Rent Protection Insurance product to ensure claims can still be processed under the latest rules.

This article was updated on 30 March 2020. Although we endeavour to keep our coronavirus (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.

All non-essential premises must now be shut following guidance from the government on business and premises closures.  Further guidance on managing house moves during the pandemic reaffirmed that "agents should not open branches to the public during this period, or visit people’s homes to carry out market appraisals" and that "agents should ensure that employees can work from home, to support existing clients and advise potential new clients." The measures, which came into force on 23 March 2020 to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), will be reviewed three weeks from this date. 

This article was originally published on 25 March 2020. Although we endeavour to keep our coronavirus (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.

Simon Roberts, Senior Associate - Solicitor Legal Advice - with DAS Law, part of the DAS UK Group, joined Goodlord for our Coronavirus and lettings webinar on 17 March. He answered questions about the legal implications for letting agents and landlords of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  

This article was originally published on 16 March 2020. Although we endeavour to keep our coronavirus (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.

The government has announced several measures to support businesses impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19) in the latest Budget. These include a statutory sick pay relief package for SMEs, small business grant funding for businesses who receive Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR), a Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and the HMRC Time To Pay Scheme. New legal powers will be brought forward in the coronavirus bill, enabling the government to offer "whatever further financial support we think necessary to businesses".

This article was updated on 25 March 2020. Although we endeavour to keep our coronavirus (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.

Non-essential businesses and premises are now closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), so it's crucial that letting agencies have the right systems and processes in place to maintain business continuity with a remote workforce. The lettings industry has proven been very resilient in previous periods of financial crisis, so it’s important that agents take steps to preserve their existing portfolio and, perhaps, even take some time to think strategically about their agency’s future when the pandemic subsides.

Goodlord has raised over £10m in a Series B funding round.

The latest Goodlord Rental Index has shown an encouraging decline in void rates during February. However, rents proved as expected for the season and dipped slightly across all but three regions monitored. 

Minimum energy efficiency standards were just the beginning. The UK has passed legislation pledging to end its contribution to global warming by 2050. The target will require the UK to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, compared with the previous target of at least 80% reduction from 1990 levels. Net zero means any emissions would be balanced by schemes to offset an equivalent amount of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, such as planting trees or using technology like carbon capture and storage.