Coronavirus and renting
There are tenants across the UK unsure of the knock-on effects of coronavirus and renting. Here, we look at answering some of the most common questions tenants currently have. *correct at time of publishing.
What if I’m struggling to pay my rent?
One big relief for tenants is the government relaxing eviction rules. They have requested landlords to be as flexible as possible to help keep tenants at home during lock-down. And, the new coronavirus Act 2020 has provided some further clarification. It stipulates that landlords in England and Wales must give three months’ notice before they can start eviction procedures. These rules are for relevant for both private and social tenancies.
What if I can’t pay my rent because I’m out of work?
The first thing to do in any of these situations is to speak to your landlord (or letting agent) directly. These really are unprecedented times, and landlords are being urged to take a sympathetic stance. Ideally, you will be able to come to an amicable arrangement that works for everyone. Again, this is encouraged by the government to help keep tenants at home wherever possible. Understandably, each situation is different, but discussing things such as rent reductions or pauses in payments can be an option. The government recently announced payment holidays could be taken for both standard and buy to let mortgages. Therefore, many landlords will benefit from a maximum of a 3-month payment holiday to ease the situation.
What if I need repairs or maintenance on my home during lock down?
Even though we are in extreme times, your landlord is still responsible for keeping your home safe. This means that essential repairs and maintenance checks, such as boiler servicing, should still be carried out within distancing guidelines. Other urgent issues can include:
- Heating breakdowns
- Problems with water supply
- Gas leaks
- Burst pipes
- Leaking roof
- security risks like broken windows or doors
My tenancy ends during social distancing – what happens?
As we mentioned, coronavirus and renting rules have been relaxed to encourage, where possible, tenants to stay at home. Therefore, landlords can extend tenancies until distancing measures are have been relaxed. Perhaps a rolling monthly contract is possible if you’re not looking to commit to a whole new year. Again, speaking with your landlord or agent is the best way to reach an amicable agreement.
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