Housing and accommodation

Renting: guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities

No one who has been impacted by coronavirus should have to worry about getting back on their feet – including homeowners, renters and landlords.

The Government has announced a package of measures to help these people. No homeowner in difficulty due to coronavirus will have to worry about their mortgage. No renter who has lost income due to coronavirus will be forced out of their home, nor will any landlord face unmanageable debts.

These changes will protect all renters and private landlords ensuring everyone gets the support they need at this very difficult time.

  • Emergency legislation to protect renters, so that no one gets evicted if they cannot pay their rent. Emergency legislation will be taken forward as an urgent priority so that landlords will not be able to start proceedings to evict tenants for at least a three-month period. As a result of these measures, no renters in private or social accommodation needs to be concerned about the threat of eviction.
     
  • A complete moratorium on evictions for three months, meaning people do not need to worry about losing their home during this difficult time. The provisions in our emergency legislation mean that landlords must give people three months’ notice if they plan to evict them, and cover most tenants in the private and social rented sectors. However, to give people more certainty, we have now introduced a complete moratorium on evictions, meaning that cases already in the system, or about go through the system, can progress to the stage where somebody could be evicted.
     
  • Announcing nearly £1 billion of support for renters, by increasing the generosity of housing benefit and Universal Credit, so that the Local Housing Allowance will cover at least 30 per cent of market rents in local areas.
     
  • Introducing a mortgage holiday for those in difficulty due to coronavirus. The mortgage holiday has now been extended, so those who haven't yet applied for a mortgage holiday now have until 31 October to make an application to their bank.
     
  • Extending the three month mortgage holiday to landlords whose tenants are experiencing financial difficulty due to coronavirus. This will alleviate the pressure on landlords, who will be concerned about meeting mortgage payments themselves, and will mean no unnecessary pressure is put on their tenants as a result. At the end of this period, landlords and tenants will be expected to work together to establish an affordable repayment plan, taking into account tenants’ individual circumstances.

View the full guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities in the private and social rented sectors in the context of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Homelessness and rough sleeping

Emergency support for rough sleepers during coronavirus outbreak

6,000 new supported homes as part of landmark commitment to end rough sleeping

  • Thousands more homes to be made available for vulnerable rough sleepers
  • Commitment is unprecedented and the most ambitious of its kind, with single largest injection of specialist accommodation since the Rough Sleeping Initiative began
  • It will be backed by £433 million of government funding with 3,300 homes to be made available in next 12 months

Moving home during the coronavirus outbreak

Re-starting the housing market by enabling people to move home safely and in line with social distancing measures.

  • All buyers and renters will now be able to complete purchases and view properties in person, while estate agents, conveyancers and removals firms can return to work while following social distancing guidelines
  • We are allowing builders to agree more flexible construction site working hours with their local council, such as staggering builders’ arrival times, easing pressure on public transport.

Planning inspections

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Planning Inspectorate guidance - updated 28 May 2020