Thank you for contacting me about extending the moratorium on evictions.
As you mention, the Government has taken a number of steps to protect renters during the coronavirus outbreak including introducing a five-month moratorium on evictions and suspending housing possession proceedings in the courts. This has provided security for millions of people.
I understand your wish to see the moratorium on evictions extended and I can assure you that any decision to amend existing measures will be based on Public Health England guidance and the needs of both landlords and tenants.
The Government continues to support renters through additional measures aimed at strengthening the welfare safety net. This includes a £7 billion increase to Universal Credit and an increase in the Local Housing Allowance rate.
A new £500 million Hardship Fund has been announced that will provide economically vulnerable individuals with financial support. Most of this funding will be used to provide more Council Tax relief, either through existing Local Council Tax Support schemes, or through similar measures. Statutory Sick Pay is also now being paid from day one of being sick, rather than day four.
On 20 March, the Chancellor further announced the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, a UK-wide scheme to pay a grant to any business for each worker they identify as furloughed so that they can remain employed but not be expected to work. These grants will cover 80 per cent of the salary of retained workers up to a total of £2,500 a month.
Offering support to landlords during this time is also important. Landlords will rightly be concerned about meeting mortgage payments, which could put pressure on their tenants. This is why I welcome the Government’s extension to the three-month mortgage payment holiday for buy-to-let landlords whose tenants are experiencing financial difficulties. At the end of this period, the Government says it expects that landlords and renters will work together to agree an affordable repayment plan, based on an understanding of the renter's circumstances and financial position.
Government assistance through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the Coronavirus Job Retention scheme is also helping to ensure that business remain afloat and staff salaries are paid.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Craig Whittaker MP
June 2020