On 12 May 2021, the government announced yet another change to the notice periods that landlords are required to provide tenants to vacate a property. From 1 June 2021, the six months’ notice period currently applicable in most situations will be reduced to four months’ notice and will remain at four months until at least the end of September.

The Government has also confirmed that the ban on bailiff enforced evictions will end on 31 May 2021. Bailiff enforced evictions can therefore resume from 1 June 2021 subject to 14 days’ notice being provided to the tenant, save in the most serious circumstances. As expected, bailiffs have also been advised that evictions should not take place if anyone at the property has Covid-19 symptoms or is self-isolating.

There remains no change to notice periods for the majority of the “most serious cases”, including anti-social behaviour. However, from 1 August 2021, the notice period required where a tenant has failed to pay rent for four or more months will be reduced to two months.

Whilst the changes are not a complete restoration of the pre-Covid notice periods, it was anticipated that a transitional period would be introduced whereby the notice required would be gradually reduced. Therefore, the reduction should bring some comfort to landlords, as it signals that at least where evictions are concerned, things look as though they will return to normal in the not-so-distant future.

This article was written by Brodie Ross, Trainee Solicitor, edited by Rachel Gimson, Partner. If you would like to discuss the above topic with our experienced Property Litigation Solicitors, please email online.enquiries@la-law.com or call 01202 786175.