The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published guidance for residential landlords and tenants on the Coronavirus Act 2020 (CVA 2020), and on their rights and responsibilities regarding property access and health and safety during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The guidance brings together the government's advice for landlords and tenants on:
The measures in the Coronavirus Act 2020 (CVA 2020) providing that landlords must give at least three months' notice for possession proceedings related to residential tenancies.
Their rights and responsibilities regarding property access and health and safety during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The government strongly advises landlords not to issue new notices seeking possession or to commence or continue eviction proceedings without "very good reason". Tenants should continue to pay rent where possible, and have an early conversation with their landlord if in difficulty. The guidance links to sources of further government guidance and includes advice for shared owners, those with a licence to occupy and employees provided with accommodation.
Regarding property access and health and safety issues, landlords and tenants should adopt a "pragmatic, common sense approach" with tenants alerting landlords to issues early. The guidance recommends that a landlord should only have access for serious and urgent issues (such as a leaking roof or broken boiler) and suggests how this might be safely achieved. For gas and electrical safety inspections, landlords unable to gain access or engage a contractor due to COVID-19 restrictions should document the steps they have taken and keep copies of correspondence with tenants and contractors.