On 30 March 2020, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) published Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance for Landlords and Tenants (guidance). This will be frequently updated.

The guidance brings together the government's advice for landlords and tenants on:

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.

Alongside the guidance, MHCLG has published Coronavirus Act 2020 and renting: Annex A - technical guidance for landlords on the provisions of the Coronavirus Act 2020, which includes details of the amended eviction processes under sections 21 (assured shorthold tenancies) and 8 (assured and assured shorthold tenancies) of the Housing Act 1988.