The UK Government has today announced that from 1 June, notice periods in England that are currently 6 months, will reduce to at least 4 months.

Notice periods for the most serious cases will remain lower:

• anti-social behaviour (immediate to 4 weeks’ notice)
• domestic abuse in the social sector (2 to 4 weeks’ notice)
• false statement (2 to 4 weeks’ notice)
• over 4 months’ accumulated rent arrears (4 weeks’ notice)
• breach of immigration rules ‘Right to Rent’ (2 weeks’ notice)
• death of a tenant (2 months’ notice)

Notice periods for cases where there is four or more months’ of unpaid rent, will reduce to 2 months’ notice from 1 August. This is to support both landlords and tenants and responds to the greater difference between COVID and pre-COVID notice periods for rent arrears.

The current ban on bailiff-enforced evictions, introduced as an emergency measure during lockdown, will end on 31 May.

Propertymark will update members as there is any revision to landlord and tenant guidance.

Measures are being adopted as part of a phased approach and longer notice periods will remain in place until at least October.

Housing Minister Chris Pincher stated that "Subject to the public health advice and progress with the Roadmap, notice periods will return to pre-pandemic levels from 1 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% of private landlords own just one property and are highly vulnerable to rent arrears."

Propertymark continues to call for more UK Government support for COVID-related rent arrears in England.