Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on delaying evictions of tenants facing hardship during the covid-19 outbreak.

We have established an unprecedented package of support to protect renters throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes a range of financial support to enable renters to continue paying their living costs, including rental payments.

We introduced legislation through the Coronavirus Act 2020 delaying when landlords can evict tenants. From 29 August 2020, landlords must give tenants six months’ notice before they can evict in most circumstances, apart from the most egregious cases, such as those involving anti-social behaviour or domestic abuse. It is right that landlords should be able to start advancing these serious cases more quickly, because of the pressure they place on landlords, other tenants and local communities. The changes to notice periods ensure those most at risk are protected and provide time for tenants to agree a solution with their landlord if they are unable to pay their rent or to consider moving to avoid building up unsustainable debt.

Where possession cases do go to court, new court rules mean that landlords are now required to set out any information they are aware of in relation to how their tenant, or any dependant of their tenant has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Where this information is not provided, judges have the ability to adjourn proceedings until such information is provided. Guidance will also be issued to bailiffs highlighting that they should not enforce possession orders in places where local public health restrictions have been introduced by government through legislation or in England and Wales across 11 December 2020 to 11 January 2021.

We will keep our measures under review?and decisions?will continue?to be guided by the latest public health advice.