Section 21 notice period extended to six months
4th September 2020Tenants in England facing eviction have been granted a Section 21 notice period extension from three months to six in new government legislation.
This will apply to notices being served to both private and social tenancies from 29 August and until March 2021.
Simon Davis, President of the Law Society of England and Wales said: “This Section 21 notice period extension will provide relief for those tenants facing eviction, and will give vulnerable tenants the time they need to seek help and find a new place to live.”
These changes come after the government extended the stay on evictions by a further four weeks, now ending on 20 September, and changes to court rules to manage court backlogs and prevent a spike in homelessness.
“The stay extension means courts can continue to make the necessary arrangements to manage cases safely during COVID-19,” said Simon Davis.
“The government and the courts have also passed new court rules and provided extra protections to vulnerable tenants and those who have been significantly impacted by the pandemic.
“However, more needs to be done, including resolving the legal aid deserts currently preventing tenants in some areas from receiving legal advice and making wider legislative changes to prevent a spike in homelessness.”