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Update: Courts reopen
Following successful lobbying by the NRLA, from Monday 21 September 2020, the courts have reopened across England and Wales. There may be some restrictions in certain areas due to local lockdown measures, and new rules around possession and court procedures apply. For more information see our blog here and our resources section.
Campaign Overview
The Government has made changes to notice periods in England, with six months now the default for possession cases, with exceptions for cases of antisocial behaviour, domestic abuse, and arrears of six months' or more, plus Right to Rent breaches and false statements. Similar changes have also been made in Wales, with exceptions only for antisocial behaviour.
With private landlords now facing waits of up to two years to regain possession, they cannot be expected to continue to foot the bill for government failure. There must now be a plan to support households to pay their bills and to compensate landlords fully for their lost income.
We are calling for direct financial support into the sector, to support landlords and tenants who have faced arrears during the pandemic and through no fault of their own. While measures through the welfare system have been welcome, more needs to be done to alleviate Covid-related arrears, and help landlords and tenants sustain tenancies.
The NRLA is lobbying hard on your behalf but it’s vital that individual landlords also make their voices heard by contacting your MP.
Key asks
The NRLA is calling for the Government to support the private rented sector:
- Interest free, government guaranteed hardship loans for tenants. Providing tenants with a means to pay off COVID-related arrears will sustain tenancies and remove any risk of eviction as furlough is removed. These should be paid directly to landlords and should cover all arrears accumulated since the start of the pandemic. This has already been introduced in Wales.
- Income support for landlords. If a tenant refuses, or is unable, to take up a loan then landlords must be able to cover arrears through grants.
We have made a joint call with Citizens Advice, Crisis, Generation Rent, Shelter and ARLA Propertymark for direct funding to support landlords and tenants.
We also continue to call for possession and court reform.
Coronavirus in Wales
Information on how coronavirus is affecting the private rented sector in Wales.
Wales Tenant Saver Loan scheme - a key step towards a support package
In this short research note Nick Clay and Calum Davies review the Tenant Saver Loan Scheme recently launched by the Welsh Government. Using primary research, the NRLA endorse the scheme. Not only does it bring respite for landlords, it is a policy which supports those most in need. However this policy initiative, though welcome, is insufficient on its own.
NRLA calls make headlines
The NRLA has made national headlines in newspapers and on TV and radio following campaigns around the evictions ban and additional support for landlords and tenants affected by Covid-19.
What landlords need to know about enforcing a possession order after the courts reopen
The evictions moratorium is due to lift on 20th September. In this blog, NRLA Senior Policy Officer James Wood explains what landlords need to know when it comes to enforcing a possession order after the courts reopen.
Pictures: Landlord and NHS worker homeless due to evictions ban
For A & E worker Kelly, her work treating patients on the frontline has never been busier. But the twelve hour shifts spent wearing full protective clothing are not the only strains on Kelly right now. She is currently sleeping in a shed at the bottom of her parents garden, and has been homeless for six months.
Almost a quarter of landlords surveyed lose rent due to Covid-19
ALMOST a quarter (22 per cent) of private landlords with properties in England surveyed have lost rental income as a result of COVID-19 according to new polling.The research, conducted online by YouGov for the NRLA, found that whilst 19 per cent of those questioned had lost up to half of their usual rental income as a result of COVID-19, three per cent had lost more than half.
Why are we calling for these measures?
We know that most tenants have continued to pay rent; this has been assisted by the Government’s furlough scheme and as the measures reduce, there is a risk that tenants will build unsustainable arrears if additional support is not provided.
The NRLA commissioned research company Dynata to conduct a survey of 2,243 private rented sector tenants in England and Wales on our behalf in July 2020. The research shows:
- 87% have paid their rent as usual since lockdown measures were introduced.
- A further 8% of tenants have come to an arrangement with their landlord / letting agent such as a reduced rent, a rent-free period, or a repayment plan.
- Less than a third of all those with arrears (2% of the entire survey sample) have been served with a possession notice.
In addition, we know that a number of landlords are unable to regain possession, even in cases of anti-social behaviour, domestic abuse or significant arrears accrued before the coronavirus restrictions. We are sharing case studies on social media and our website, as well as using them in lobbying; submit yours here.
Why should I contact my MP?
Your MP has a duty to represent you as their constituent and a letter from your MP will have more weight than individuals writing to the Secretary of State directly.
Personalised letters to your MP detailing your own experience can help your MP understand your concerns and convince them to support you. It’s therefore important to include details about how you and your tenants have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak and any actions you have taken to support your tenants.
You can also seek to speak to your MP directly through their regular constituency surgery – contact your constituency office for details. These meetings are likely to be virtual due to coronavirus restrictions.
Do you have a letter template I can use?
Personalised letters have the most impact on politicians because individual stories and experiences matter. It’s essential to give your MP examples of how the policy has had an impact on your and/or your tenants and why you believe it’s important to take action.
We’ve developed a lobbying tool so you can write to your MP alongside some tips to help you craft a compelling message.
What else can I do?
We’ve heard from a number of members who are making extra effort to support their tenants during this challenging time, whether that’s by proactively contacting tenants to offer flexibility with rent payments, delivering essentials to vulnerable tenants or even arranging an online cook-along for tenants and providing them with ingredients.
If you’ve got an example of support which you’d like to share with us, you can do so below.