UK Landlord Forum / Life

Prior to the Covid outbreak the tenancy agreement my agent set-up with the tenant would have ended on the 31st July 2021. Under current legislation a six months notice period is required, so last month (March) I served notice via my agent which takes the period to September 2021. The UK Gov 6 month notice period is in force to the 21st May 2021. The question I have is: If the UK Gov (England) does not extend the 6 months notice period on the 21st May. Will the agreement revert back to the original end of July 21 end date?

The Section 21 notice period doesn't change the end date of the tenancy agreement: it's still 31st July either way. The Section 21 is a "no fault" eviction process, instructing your tenant to leave at the end of the stated period. In the absence of an eviction, or a formal contractual renewal, the tenancy would just continue as a Statutory Periodic Tenancy.

If by chance the minimum notice period were to revert to two months at the end of May, you could in theory issue a new Section 21 on that basis. Personally, I don't think that's likely: I reckon the six month period is here to stay. At best, they might taper it back down gradually but there was pressure to have a longer notice period before the pandemic so, now that everyone's "got used to it", they'll probably just treat it as a fait accompli and leave it alone.

Well... their stated aim is to remove the Section 21 facility entirely.

Quote from: Hippogriff on April 08, 2021, 12:05:56 PM
Well... their stated aim is to remove the Section 21 facility entirely.

As much as that might be their stated aim, I think, as far as the current administration is concerned, they'll consider it sufficient to have been seen to do something. Abolishing Section 21 would effectively abolish ASTs, and that would throw a big old spanner into the residential property market (both sales and rentals), whereas keeping the six month notice period - or maybe upping it to twelve over time, boils the frog more gently.

Good Afternoon,

I am wondering if anyone can help me? from my understanding the Government 6 month notice period is in force until the 31st of May 2021. Is there any indication if this will be extended? If it isn't, will it revert back to the usual notice period?
Even during Covid I have always thought six months was excessive given there is higher number of rental properties available at lower rates to rent than pre-Covid. However, I understand this not may be the case on a national scale.

thank you

No one here can answer that question. The public simply have not been told if it'll be extended again. All assuming the decision on this have even been made already.

Quote from: pablogp07 on May 04, 2021, 12:58:50 PMEven during Covid I have always thought six months was excessive...

I am quietly confident the people and departments with the power will be paying attention to your thoughts on this matter. Thanks for airing them. Think about your question.. how can anyone here tell you more than what is out there already, published for all to see?

I thought that perhaps I may have missed something somewhere.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/support-for-renters-continues-with-longer-notice-periods

Quote from: Hippogriff on May 19, 2021, 12:23:31 PM
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/support-for-renters-continues-with-longer-notice-periods

That's a bit better, hopefully it will revert to two months notice by the end of the year.