Possessions win as Housing Minster quotes NRLA in Commons debate

27 Jul 2020 11:25 AM

The NRLA was referenced several times by the Housing Minister Christopher Pincher MP in the Commons when discussing the end to the ban on repossessions next month.

Shadow Housing Secretary Thangam Debbonaire MP (Labour) tabled an urgent question asking the Housing Minister to make a statement on the implications of the end of the ban, which is due to end on 23rd August.

Tenants’ groups had also written a letter to Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick, recommending that plans to end Section 21 evictions must be accelerated, as well as urging temporary changes to ground 8 to give courts discretion to suspend a possession order in cases where arrears have built up, to protect tenants.

However, Housing Minister, Christopher Pincher told the Commons that the evidence he has shows landlords are working proactively to support tenants at the moment, referencing the NRLA.

He said the government is working to provide ‘appropriate support’ to those who have been particularly affected by coronavirus when possession proceedings start again, and later on shared he doesn’t think a ‘tsunami’ of evictions is likely when the courts can begin to hear possession cases again.

“Strict procedures”

The Minister highlighted landlords will need to follow ‘strict procedures’ if they want to gain possession of their property when the eviction ban comes to an end next month- adding they need to give at least three months notice of their intention to seek possession.

Mr Pincher was referring to new civil procedure rules announced last week, which will require landlords to confirm they wish to make or continue with a claim by filling in a reactivation notice and sending it to the court and the tenants and must take into account how tenants’ circumstances have been affected by coronavirus.

The Minister again referenced the NRLA when speaking about the new rules, saying that “the right balance has been struck between tenants’ needs and landlords’ rights”

Click here for the full press release