Rental evictions are finally on the cards again, but as Anna Pettinger discusses this month, coronavirus restrictions can still throw a spanner in the works for frustrated landlords…
I have a possession order to remove the tenant currently occupying my property, but he claims to have contracted Covid. Will the eviction still go ahead?
Now the temporary ban on rental evictions has been lifted, possession proceedings are, thankfully, starting to progress through the courts in a slightly more ‘normal’ fashion.
The process has still not returned to its pre-pandemic state – and may never do so – but we are seeing notice periods reducing and evictions taking place.
Landlords find it very reassuring to know that when they receive the notice of a bailiff’s appointment, they can finally regain possession of their property. It can be extremely frustrating, therefore, if the tenant claims to have Covid or long Covid, which means the eviction cannot go ahead.
Whilst it is understandable that some tenants who have suffered with coronavirus require additional time to recover, we are seeing an increasing number claiming to be infected, without producing evidence, in order to delay their eviction. Sadly, the direct result is another month without any rent for the landlord.
Tenants who profess to have long Covid are given additional time to vacate their property and are able to push an eviction back by two weeks. Unfortunately, there is very little you or the bailiffs can do in this situation.
Any additional delay is bound to be exasperating at this point, but it may come as some relief to learn that tenants can only postpone the eviction twice. It will go ahead on the third date, regardless of any claims the tenant makes about their health. That said, we are yet to see what would happen if they provided evidence of a positive Covid test on the third eviction date!
For more information about gaining possession of a rental property and the current coronavirus restrictions, don’t hesitate to contact me. Email: anna.pettinger@tayloremmet.co.uk
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