Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of private rented sector tenants who are in arrears due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will be subject to a section 21 or a section 8 notice eviction under the Housing Act 1988 issued after 26 March and before the Coronavirus Act 2020 (Residential Tenancies: Protection from Eviction) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020 (SI2020/914) came into effect on 28 August.

The Government has established an unprecedented package of support to protect renters throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

When courts resume possession hearings they will prioritise the most egregious cases, ensuring landlords are able to progress cases such as those involving anti-social behaviour and other?serious issues.

The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Residential Tenancies: Protection from Eviction) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020 came into force on 29 August 2020. They extended emergency measures in the Coronavirus Act 2020, meaning that from 29 August landlords are required to provide longer notice periods of six months when seeking possession of residential property, in all but the most egregious cases. These new requirements only apply to notices served after the 29 August.