COMMUNITIES Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced that she is extending legislation to protect private renters from eviction until 4 May 2022.
Introduced at the start of the pandemic the Private Tenancies (Coronavirus Modifications) Act requires landlords to give tenants a 12 week notice to quit period before seeking a court order to begin proceedings to evict.
The legislation was due to expire on 30 September and after a review, the Minister has taken the decision that it should be extended further until 4 May 2022 to protect renters in the private rented sector.
Minister Hargey said: “I have considered very carefully the balance between landlords’ interests as property owners and the protection of those in need during this pandemic to ensure people are not facing eviction in this challenging time.
“Whilst it is clear that the overall situation is greatly improved from the beginning of the pandemic, there is still some way to go. I’m mindful of the economic disruption which may emerge as other protections unwind.
“As ever, I would encourage landlords and tenants to continue to work together during this period to avoid the need for commencing or pursuing possession proceedings in what remains a difficult time.”
This emergency legislation was introduced in response to the pandemic. More generally, the Minister has recently introduced a Private Tenancies Bill in to the Assembly. The Minister intends that this new Bill will deliver a number of protections for private renters including a permanent extension to the Notice to Quit period.
Welcoming the announcement, Nicola McCrudden, Chief Executive of Council for the Homeless said: “Social housing tenants have more security than those in the private rented sector. We were concerned about the consequences of the interim 12 weeks extension period running out.
"With furlough ending and the potential removal of the £20 uplift in Universal Credit many private tenants could find themselves in financial difficulty and vulnerable to becoming homeless, so this announcement is both welcome and timely.
“Measures which will help private renters either remain in a property or have a longer period to find alternative accommodation will help to prevent more households becoming homeless.
"The homelessness sector is under huge pressure at the current time. The pandemic and its consequences have caused an unprecedented rise in the number of households needing support to keep a roof over their heads or to move into temporary accommodation.”
Speaking of the longer-term Ms McCrudden added: “It is our hope that the private tenancies bill due to come to the Assembly in the autumn will permanently introduce a longer notice to quit period for tenants to ensure they have this protection in to the future.”
