Helping the lettings industry stay compliant with changing legislation and advice during the continually-evolving Covid-19 pandemic.
After more than 18 months of disruption, notice periods have reverted to their pre-pandemic levels from 1 October 2021, with new versions of Section 21 and Section 8 notice forms for agents and landlords.
Notice periods for cases where there are rent arrears of less than four months have reduced to two months in England from 1 August 2021, with the notice period for arrears of more than four months remaining at four weeks.
How can you reassure your staff members that your workplace is safe? What can you do if staff members are refusing to return to work? What if a staff member is self-isolating but isn’t required to do so? DAS Law UK looks at what employers need to consider when returning staff members to work.
ARLA Propertymark's Robert Bolwell, Senior Partner at Dutton Gregory, answers questions on the Changes to the evictions process, serving notices and new court processes as a result of Covid-19.
The Debt Respite Scheme, or "Breathing Space" law, will come into effect on 4 May 2021 in England and Wales, to "give someone in problem debt the right to legal protections from their creditors" - including tenants.
The guidance for landlords and tenants during Covid-19 has been updated to make serious rent arrears "greater than 6 months' rent" exempt from the extended evictions ban in England - removing the stipulation that rent accrued since the start of the first lockdown in March 2020 could be discounted.
As under Tier 4 restrictions, the lettings industry can continue to operate during the third national lockdown in England. Letting agencies can "continue to work" and people are permitted to move home.
Covid-19 guidelines for letting agents and landlords, updated with the introduction of a fourth tier and still applicable during the third national lockdown, continue to prioritise tenant safety while reminding agents of tenant protections in place.
Local authorities will have greater powers to enforce compliance on businesses operating in an unsafe way, including financial penalties, when England returns to tiered restrictions on 2 December 2020.
It’s more important than ever that letting agents are offering their landlords rent protection insurance as part of a comprehensive proposition, says Goodlord's Head of Insurance, Oli Sherlock, and it will help them to stand out from the competition in the coming year.
Notice periods in England had been set at four-months in all but the most serious cases since June 2021, but have now returned to normal levels. In Wales, extended notice periods of six months will still apply until 31 December 2021, and in Scotland six month notice periods will last until 31 March 2022 - both with some exceptions.
Topics: Covid-19
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.
Notice periods for cases where there are rent arrears of less than four months have reduced to two months in England from 1 August 2021. The notice period for "serious arrears" is four weeks’ notice, with "serious arrears" defined as four or more months of unpaid rent.
Topics: Covid-19
What should you consider when staff members who have been working remotely as a result of Covid-19 start returning to the office? Molly-Ellen Turecek of DAS Law UK looks at what employers need to consider when returning staff members to work.
Topics: Covid-19
Covid-19 continues to have a significant impact on lettings legislation. ARLA Propertymark's Robert Bolwell, Senior Partner at Dutton Gregory, joined Goodlord for a webinar to discuss the most recent changes, answer letting agents questions, and talk about what's on the horizon.
🎬Watch the whole Q&A here
🎧Listen to the whole Q&A here
Topics: Covid-19
Covid-19 may have left some tenants struggling to pay their rent, and this new law will ensure they have some "breathing space", giving them time to find a way to pay off their debts, from 4 May 2021, in England and Wales.
Topics: Covid-19
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.
Agents should be aware of an update to the guidance for landlords and tenants during Covid-19, which now states that "serious rent arrears greater than 6 months’ rent" will be exempt from the evictions ban - regardless of when the arrears started to accrue.
Topics: Covid-19
The situation with Covid-19 is rapidly changing. For the latest guidelines, please refer to gov.uk.
The government has confirmed that people can still move home and continue to view properties during the third national lockdown in England, as under Tier 4 restrictions, while continuing to follow appropriate Covid-19 safety guidelines. The lockdown will come into law on 6 January 2020 and is expected to be in place until at least February half term.
Topics: Covid-19
The situation with Covid-19 is rapidly changing. For the latest guidelines, please refer to gov.uk.
The 2020 holiday period was disrupted by the introduction of Tier 4 Covid-19 measures across much of England, and now 2021 starts with a new national lockdown. The government has confirmed that the lettings industry can continue to operate under these restrictions, and its guidance for home moving emphasises that the safety of tenants should remain the "first priority" for agents and landlords.
Topics: Covid-19
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 Government has announced that England will be moving back into a system of tiered restrictions as part of its “Covid-19 Winter Plan” for when the second national lockdown ends on 2 December. Although the restrictions will be “tougher” than they were in October, it currently appears that the lettings industry will be able to continue operating as it has during the lockdown, with “moving home” listed as being exempt from the restrictions on gatherings at every tier. Courts will also remain open at every tier.
Topics: Covid-19
Rent protection insurance has never been a more crucial component of a letting agency's landlord proposition than it has been this year, providing landlords - and their agents - with the security of income in an environment of uncertainty. Now, in the midst of a second national lockdown, it’s more important than ever that letting agents are offering their landlords this protection as part of a comprehensive proposition. Goodlord’s Head of Insurance, Oli Sherlock, talks about how the market has changed in 2020 and how a comprehensive rent guarantee product can help letting agents strengthen their offering to landlords in 2021.
🎧 Listen to this talk here
🎬Watch this talk here
Topics: Covid-19
