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EVICTIONS: Letting agents must now give six months’ notice of evictions until 30th March 2021 in Wales

Housing minister says tenants can be given shorter notice periods but only if they are involved in anti-social behaviour or domestic violence.

Nigel Lewis

evictions

The Welsh government is to extend the period during which landlords and letting agents must wait for six months before starting evictions to March 31st next year, moving it past the original September 30th deadline.

But housing minister Julie James has said that landlords and lettings agents will be able to give shorter notice periods to tenants involved in anti-social behaviour (of one month) or domestic violence (immediate).

“The coronavirus pandemic is continuing to have a significant impact on daily life and is still posing major challenges for all of us,” she told the Welsh parliament. “I have therefore acted to give additional protection to renters.

“I am committed to ensuring we continue to protect renters whilst at the same time mitigating impacts on landlords and protecting communities from the harmful effects of ongoing anti-social behaviour.

Rent arrears

But unlike in England, the Welsh government is not including ‘extreme rent arrears’ as a reason to give a shorter notice period prior to an eviction.

“Where rent arrears have accumulated due to Covid-19, private rented sector tenants will soon be able to apply for a loan through the Tenancy Saver Loan scheme when it opens for applications at the end of this month,” said James.

“We’ve also provided an additional £1.4 million to boost services that support people in Wales to manage problem debt and improve their household income.”

The ministers also announced that, as England’s government announced recently, there will be a pause on physical evictions both during the festive period and within any future local lock-downs.

September 16, 2020

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