Notice periods to return to pre-Covid lengths from October 1

According to Propertymark, the UK government has today confirmed that notice periods will return to pre-Covid lengths in England from October 1 2021.

All notices were increased to six months for most grounds including Section 21 notices (with exemptions for some serious cases)  as a result of the pandemic and the introduction of the Coronavirus Act 2020

Since 1 June 2021 until 30 September 2021 notice periods must be at least four months in most circumstances apart from exemptions for the most serious cases. Notice periods for cases where there are less than four months of unpaid rent, reduced to two months’ notice from 1 August.

Property Manager Joe Rocks, said:”This announcement will be welcomed by many landlords across the country. Of course landlords and agents sympathise with those tenants who have genuinely struggled during the coronavirus pandemic, unfortunately there are a minority of tenants who have taken advantage of the pandemic and some landlords are tens of thousands of pounds out of pocket. 

“With the changes of the notice periods back to pre-Covid levels it means that the landlords can minimise the delay in starting legal proceedings against tenants. With the Renters Reform Bill on the horizon expect further consultation and changes to notices and notice periods.”

The changes mean that for a Section 21 notice it will revert back to 2 months notice and a Section 8 notice will return to 14 days notice for tenants who owe 2 months or more rent arrears.

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