Good news for residential landlords – possession hearings to re-start in August

To the relief of many landlords, the government has announced it will not extend the ongoing evictions ban after 23 August with court possession hearings to re-start the day after.

This means that landlords, many increasingly anxious about their financial position, can now take some pro-active steps to recover debts owed on rented properties.

The ban, introduced when lockdown began in March, placed almost 6,000 landlords in limbo after pre-Covid possession hearings and court orders were frozen enabling tenants to stay on in rented property for nothing.

On top of this, thousands of evictions started via Section 21 or Section 8 notices during lockdown have been unable to proceed because the courts have been closed.

What now?

Landlords should exercise the pre-action obligations they would normally carry out.

They can still issue an appropriate notice for possession and start the process of eviction once the moratorium - 23 August - has expired.

Of course, it is important to communicate with tenants and try to find amicable solutions but when it comes to possession claims, if the correct procedures have been followed, the court often has no discretion but to grant possession of the property.

In these difficult times, it has never been more important to combine a proactive approach with specialist legal advice to prevent costly and time-consuming litigation in the future.

Specialist help and advice

For further information please see our previous article, Landlords - extension of the eviction ban and recovering rent arrears or to talk about our specialist debt recovery service, please contact James Murray, James Taylor or Richard Darbinian, all members of Wards Solicitors' highly acclaimed Disputes Team.

James Murray: James.Murray@wards.uk.com

James Taylor: James.Taylor@wards.uk.com

Richard Darbinian: Richard.Darbinian@wards.uk.com