COVID-19 Advice For Landlords

Support specifically for landlords in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has not been announced, though you may qualify for a business loan to help cover lost revenue temporarily. In Scotland private renters can access support for lost income due specifically to the coronavirus pandemic.

There may well be more announcements to come in this area, with the eviction freeze coming to an end (will it be extended?) and many workers unsure as to how long the 80% furlough scheme will continue to support them for.

This is best decided on a case-by-case basis, ideally in agreement with your tenants and your accountant. Remember, a mortgage holiday is simply a break from your usual payments. The full amount will need to be repaid over the following months as agreed upon with your provider. The same is true for your tenants.

There are a variety of options available to individuals, you can point them in the direction of our COVID-19 guidance here or the Government website. Essentially if your tenants are experiencing income difficulties it’s in both of your best interests to work together. Your tenants may be able to claim support via Universal Credit, or loans specific to the current situation. There are a minority of individuals who will be particularly hard-hit by the pandemic and who do not qualify for much in the way of government assistance. So remember that they are under tremendous pressure too – it may be worth negotiating a reduced rate as a temporary measure if possible.

Yes you can, in-person viewings are allowed. Many estate agents and letting management companies are doing their best to show properties online virtually to help encourage renters, offering more photographs and 360 degree tours if available, but in-person viewings are permitted. Speak with your letting agent to confirm their current guidance on viewing properties safely, or if you usually let independently you may wish to seek additional legal advice to ensure you’re operating safely.

The Government’s advice on home moving during the coronavirus outbreak may be a helpful resource.

In March a three month freeze on eviction proceedings was announced by the government. This has been continually extended – at time of writing this freeze has been extended until Jan 2021, with further extensions likely. If you have eviction proceedings in-place they will be frozen for now, if you wish to issue a new eviction notice it must be sent after the freeze is lifted, as stipulated by the government.

This applies to all evictions, not only those relating to the coronavirus.

Similar rules to non-commercial rental apply, you may not evict commercial tenants if they cannot pay their rent due to the pandemic, though guidance on this particular issue has not been updated since March 2020.

If your commercial tenant’s business has been forced to close they may still have some capital from government grants, if so they need to try and keep their rent paid. It is a very difficult situation and it’s best to come to a joint agreement regarding commercial rent. You may be able to get a mortgage holiday from your lender, or you and your tenant may agree to a temporary reduction in rates. Remember, it will be extremely difficult in current circumstances to simply evict a business and find a new tenant, it’s best to work together and find a mutual solution.