Government to propose new legislation to protect tenants from eviction
publication date: Aug 23, 2009
Housing Minister John
Healey plans to give
new legal protection
to tenants vulnerable
to being evicted with little
or no notice if their private
landlord is repossessed. When
mortgage borrowers have
let their properties without
the knowledge or consent
of lenders, tenants currently
have very limited rights if the
property is repossessed, which
means they can face eviction
at very short notice. CLG
estimate between 2,000-3,000
households could be affected
this year.
John Healey is consulting on proposals to change the law so that tenants in this position to receive two months’ notice to vacate the property – giving them time to find suitable alternative accommodation. He is also calling on lenders to use alternatives to repossession, such as appointing Receivers of Rent to collect rent and manage occupied properties.
The law has already extended the notice given to tenants that a possession hearing will take place – giving them up to seven weeks’ warning. Healey said,“It is wrong that through no fault of their own these families can find themselves on the street with little prior warning.”
John Healey is consulting on proposals to change the law so that tenants in this position to receive two months’ notice to vacate the property – giving them time to find suitable alternative accommodation. He is also calling on lenders to use alternatives to repossession, such as appointing Receivers of Rent to collect rent and manage occupied properties.
The law has already extended the notice given to tenants that a possession hearing will take place – giving them up to seven weeks’ warning. Healey said,“It is wrong that through no fault of their own these families can find themselves on the street with little prior warning.”