Housing Enforcement Action Ban
The ban on enforcement action has now been extended in England until 31st May 2021, and in Wales until 30th May 2021. Understandably the Government(s) have had to make unprecedented decisions and difficult decisions in the last twelve months, however there are increasing concerns from both Housing specialists and Parliamentary committees regarding what will happen when these deadlines end, and how the Courts will cope with a barrage of eviction cases and the effect on Landlords and Tenants.
An estimated 20,000 cases are waiting in the wings to be dealt with, on top of the new cases. This is going to have a significant effect on Court resources, and we are aware that County Court Bailiffs are also in shortage. The Government has not indicated any extra resources towards recruitment of bailiff recruitment, and Landlords are feeling the pressure of trying to cope without their assistance.
The deadline for Landlords to apply for Mortgage Payment Holidays ended on 31st March 2021 and this coupled with the enforcement action deadlines, means a critical number of Tenants are likely to be evicted and made homeless from the middle of 2021, and for some time to come.
At Newbold we can offer advice to both Landlords and Tenants in these situations. We would recommend that these parties start to communicate openly with one another to see if such terms such as rent arrears (if there are any) can be negotiated and / or (for example) any allegations of anti social behaviour being resolved.
If you would like to discuss your case with us, please call our dedicated team on 0330 123 1131.
Joanna McBride – Solicitor
More information on the services we can offer to Landlords and Tenants is available via the below links.
Landlord Services
Tenant Services
Free No Obligation advice is available on a number of our services, we can help you decide how best to deal with your case.
Further information on the matter can be found via the Property Reporter.
Disrepair and Local Authority Housing
Having seen the ITV news last night and the appalling conditions that some local authority tenants are being forced to endure in Croydon it is important to remember that people should not have to live like that.
Living in a property that is suffering from disrepair can have an enormous impact on both the physical and mental health of the tenants living in the property.
In England alone around four million households live in social housing, and around 480,000 of those social housing homes do not currently meet the government’s ‘decent homes’ standards, according to the English Housing Survey, meaning they are suffering from disrepair. 200,000 of these homes, had a category one hazard such as damp, poor electrics, or fire hazards.
Enduring those sorts of conditions in a normal year would be extremely tough but having to do that during numerous lockdowns would be unbearable.
Landlords and local authority housing are required by law to ensure that any property they are renting out is in a good state of repair. Sadly, this is not always the case. The good news is that the law is there to help tenants who may be living in properties suffering from disrepair, tenants may be able to take out an injunction and claim compensation/damages. Many solicitors who offer expert advice in this area (like us) offer a no win no fee service. In cases where the claim is successful the landlord will be required to make good any disrepair within the property as well as paying the costs associated with the claim.
Tenants should not suffer in silence.
Get in touch with our expert team today on 0330 123 1131 or visit our disrepair claims page for more information.
More information on the report from ITV News can be found here.
20% Discount for Blue Light & Defence Discount Service Card Holders
Do you have Defence Discount Service or Blue Light Card?
As a firm NewBold Solicitors are very proud to support those in our community who work within the emergency services and the armed forces. That is why we have teamed up with Blue Light Card and Defence Discount Service to offer all card holders 20% off our legal fees across our services.
We can advise on a number of services including:
- Property Litigation
- Landlord Services
- Tenant Services
- Wills & Probate
- Family Law
- Conveyancing
It has been a difficult year for all of us and especially those working on the front line during the pandemic. We would like to offer our support where we can.
If you would like more information on our services please have a look at the services page of our website or call us on 0330 123 1131.
We hope to be able to assist you soon.
*a valid Blue Light Card or Defence Discount Service card must be presented at the time of instruction for the discount to be applied.
You are eligible for a Blue Light Card if you are an employed and paid staff member of the following:
- NHS
- Police Service
- Ambulance Service
- Fire Service
- HM Prison Service/HMPPS
- NHS Dental Practice
- HM Armed Forces
- MoD Civil Servant
- MoD Fire Service
- MoD Police
- Highways Agency
- Border Force
- Immigration Enforcement
- UK Visas and Immigration
- HM Coastguard
- RNLI
- Search and Rescue
- 4x4 Response
- Blood Bikes
- First Responders
- St Andrews Ambulance
- St John Ambulance
- Social Care
For more information on the cards please visit:
International Women's Day 2021
Happy International Women's Day
Today we Choose To Challenge gender bias and inequality.
As a firm we have 56 women working with us. 3 of our 4 Associates are female including our Senior Associate. With all women sharing their time between a high flying legal position and a busy young family life, and the Founding Partner being a woman, we believe we can certainly celebrate women’s day here at NewBold Solicitors. Check out or staff page to see many of our successful female employees.
SPRING BUDGET: Summary for Landlords in England
The hotly anticipated Spring Budget has arrived and Landlords are able to breathe a sigh of relief - at least for the time being. The relevant provisions are summarised as follows:
- Stamp Duty Land Tax holiday (for properties in England and Northern Ireland up to £500,000) is extended until 30th June 2021;
- Business rates holiday until end of June 2021 (and discounted rates thereafter)
- An increase on Corporation Tax on company profits is delayed until April 2023, when it will increase to 25% (relevant to both incorporated Landlords and letting agency businesses)
- Capital Gains Tax exemptions are frozen at their 2020-21 levels until 2025-26;
- For Landlords of commercial premises, a £5 billion Restart grant for shops and other businesses;
- The £20.00 a week uplift in Universal Credit (worth an extra £1,000.00 a year) will be extended for a further six months, and the Furlough Scheme is extended until end of September 2021.
Notwithstanding the glimmer of some good news above, industry opinion has criticised the lack of support for Tenants in the Budget - and the inevitable impact this will have on their Landlords.
Whist the Universal Credit and Furlough Scheme will enable Tenants to plan ahead, the fact remains that there has been a lack of support for Tenants during the Covid-19 pandemic, many of whom risk losing their homes and / or damage to their credit scores due to rent arrears. This is likely to have a significant effect on the Government's plans to turn Generation Rent into Generation Buy.
The extension of the Stamp Duty Land Tax is a real boost for homeowners but Tenants appear to have been forgotten in the process. We cannot foresee what will happen in six months time, particularly when such emergency measures such as the Universal Credit uplift and Furlough Scheme may end, and Tenants are likely to be feeling the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic for months ahead. There are calls for the Universal Credit uplift to become permanent, as well as noises being made regarding more social housing and investment in housing benefit. It is thought these types of measures will provide security and safety for Tenants and confidence to seek work which will help to prop up the economic recovery for the difficult times ahead of us.
For more formation on the services we can offer Landlords, please visit our Landlord Services page or call us on 0330 123 1131.
Joanna McBride - Solicitor
Further information relating to the Budget 2021 can be found here.