At last, some good news for landlords in England. The government announced the notice periods for section 8 has been reduced. The reduced notice period is to be phased in as an easing of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
| When you served the notice | Minimum notice period |
| On or after 1 June 2021 | 4 months (less than 4 months’ arrears) |
| 4 weeks (4 months’ arrears or more) | |
| Between 29 August 2020 and 31 May 2021 | 6 months (less than 6 months’ arrears) |
| 4 weeks (6 months’ arrears or more) | |
| Between 26 March and 28 August 2020 | 3 months |
| Before 26 March 2020 | 2 weeks |
| From 1 August 2021 | For tenants with rent arrears under 4 Months, the notice period will reduce to 2 months |
Notice periods for cases with four months or less unpaid rent will reduce to two months’ notice from the 1st of August.
This supports both landlords and tenants and responds to the more significant difference between COVID and pre COVID notice periods for tenant rent arrears.
The current ban on bailiff-enforced evictions, introduced as an emergency measure during the lockdown, ended on the 31st of May.
Housing Minister Chris Pincher said: “Subject to the public health advice and progress with the Roadmap, notice periods will return to pre-pandemic levels from the 1st of October.
“The measures will ensure renters continue to be protected with longer notice periods for the coming months. While allowing landlords to access justice – 45 per cent of private landlords own just one property and are highly vulnerable to rent arrears.”
Mark Hayward, Propertymark chief policy advisor, says: “Whilst the reduced notice periods are still longer than pre-Covid. It is promising to see the government continuing to provide financial support to tenants to combat rent arrears, as well as providing clarity for the rental sector as we navigate the easing of restrictions.”
One of the leading national tenant eviction companies said: We are delighted the government has announced reducing the notice period and lifting the restriction on the bailiffs”.
The PRS is relieved the government has now acted. Many landlords have tenants with serious rent arrears and feel the government has not helped them.
