Bans on bailiff evictions extended until at least February 21 across England, Wales and Scotland
AN eviction ban in England, Wales and Scotland has been extended after pressure from charity groups amid a third national lockdown.
The ban in England was due to lift tomorrow (January 11), but will now last until February 21.
The change in law means that landlords cannot serve eviction notices and bailiffs cannot carry out repossessions except in extreme circumstances.
The Ministry of Housing said this means there should be no evictions until March 8 at the earliest, as at least two week's notice is usually required.
Wales and Scotland have extended their bans until March 31, meaning renters will have an extra month of security.
The ban on bailiff evictions was first introduced in March to help renters manage through the coronavirus pandemic.
What to do if you can't pay your rent
FOR private renters, speak to your landlord as soon as you can.
They may be able to defer your payment, or to allow you to pay a smaller amount - but they don't have to do this.
Social renters should speak to their housing association or local council.
If you've tried speaking to your housing association or landlord and they aren't being sympathetic, contact Shelter for advice and support. They'll be able to guide you about what to do next.
If you're finding it difficult to manage your payments because you're in debt, here are some tips for you to curb it:
Check your bank balance on a regular basis - knowing your spending patterns is the first step to managing your money
Work out your budget - by writing down your income and taking away your essential bills such as food and transport
If you have money left over, plan in advance what else you’ll spend or save. If you don’t, look at ways to cut your costs
Pay off more than the minimum - If you’ve got credit card debts aim to pay off more than the minimum amount on your credit card each month to bring down your bill quicker
Pay your most expensive credit card sooner - If you have more than one credit card and can’t pay them off in full each month, prioritise the most expensive card (the one with the highest interest rate)
Prioritise your debts - If you’ve got several debts and you can’t afford to pay them all it’s important to prioritise them. Your rent, mortgage, council tax and energy bills should be paid first because the consequences can be more serious if you don't pay
Get advice - If you’re struggling to pay your debts month after month it’s important you get advice as soon as possible, before they build up even further.
Groups like Citizens Advice, Money Advice Trust or StepChange can also help you prioritise and negotiate with your creditors to offer you more affordable repayment plans.
Initially billed as a short-term measure, the ban was regularly extended till the end of September.
Government figures show that as a result, applications to the courts for possession by private and social landlords were down 86% between July and September 2020, compared to the same period in 2019.
The first ban was officially lifted on September 20, but then in November, the government paused eviction enforcement over the Christmas period.
Landlords that want to evict tenants are required to give at least a six-month notice period to tenants until March 31.
There are some exceptions to the new rules, but the government says this is only for the "most egregious cases".
For instance, courts will continue to prioritise cases involving anti-social behaviour, illegal occupation and perpetrators of domestic abuse in the social sector.
Other examples where evictions can still be enforced include death of a tenant where the property is unoccupied, fraud and extreme rent arrears equivalent to six months’ rent.
After the new deadline, landlords will be able to start evicting tenants. But the rules remain under review, which means the dates could change again in the future.
A new mediation pilot is also being launched next month, to better support renters who face court procedures and potential evictions.
Under the scheme, mediation will be offered as part of the possession process, hopefully meaning fewer people will need to go to court.
This mediation is designed to try and help landlords and tenants to reach a mutual agreement and keep people in their homes.
It will work within the existing court arrangements in England and Wales.
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