Guidance

COVID-19 and renting: guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities

Non-statutory guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities in the private and social rented sectors in the context of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

From:
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (2018 to 2021)
Published
28 March 2020
Last updated
28 February 2022 — See all updates

This publication was withdrawn on

This guidance has been withdrawn because it’s no longer current. Check up-to-date coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance and information.

Applies to England

Documents

Guidance for landlords and tenants

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Technical guidance on eviction notices

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Guidance for local authorities

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Details

What has changed

The government has published its plan for living with COVID-19. This means:

From 24 February

  • You will no longer be legally required to self-isolate if you test positive for COVID-19. New guidance will advise people who test positive to stay at home and avoid contact with other people.

  • You will no longer be legally required to self-isolate if you are an unvaccinated close contact, and will no longer be advised to test for 7 days if you are a fully vaccinated close contact. The government has published new guidance for people with coronavirus (COVID-19) and their close contacts.

This guidance provides advice to landlords and tenants on the provisions in the Coronavirus Act 2020, and further advice for landlords, tenants and local authorities more broadly about their rights and responsibilities during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Updates to this page

Published 28 March 2020
Last updated 28 February 2022 + show all updates

  1. Updated in line with the removal of self-isolation regulations on 24 February 2022.

  2. Call-out box added on the lifting of Plan B measures.

  3. Information box added that England will move to Plan B in response to the risks of the Omicron variant.

  4. Guidance for landlords and tenants updated to reflect changes to new court arrangements.

  5. Guidance for landlords and tenants updated to reflect the end of the Rental Mediation Service pilot.

  6. Updated to reflect the return to pre-COVID notice period lengths on 1 October 2021.

  7. Updated guidance following Prime Minister's statement on the autumn and winter plan.

  8. Guidance updated for the move to COVID-19 rules step 4 on 19 July

  9. Updated following the extension of Step 3 of the coronavirus (COVID-19) roadmap on Monday 21 June.

  10. Guidance updated to reflect 12 May announcement on changes to notice periods and bailiff enforcement.

  11. Updated in line with the latest government guidance on how the rules changed on 17 May.

  12. Guidance updated to link to new guidance on (COVID-19) Coronavirus restrictions: what you can and cannot do and new mediation guidance.

  13. Guidance updated to 1) reflect the government’s commitment to extend the prevention of evictions by enforcement officers in England to 31 May 2021 and 2) confirm that legislation requiring landlords to provide 6 months notice to tenants in most cases has been extended until 31 May 2021

  14. Updated to include link to guidance on the changes to the national lockdown rules from 8 March.

  15. Guidance updated to reflect new legislation extending the prevention on enforcement of evictions in England during the national lockdown and launch of the mediation pilot.

  16. Guidance updated to reflect 4 January announcement of national lockdown for England.

  17. Updated to reflect changes to the tier system and the introduction of a 4th tier from 20 December.

  18. Sections 2.9 and 2.23 of the Landlord and tenant guidance updated to reflect that the 14-day isolation period is now 10 days.

  19. Landlord and tenant guidance updated to provide further information on communal lounges in specialist sheltered and retirement housing and on canteens in extra-care housing.

  20. Guidance updated to reflect the local restriction tier system that will be in place from Wednesday 2 December.

  21. Guidance updated to reflect new legislation to prevent enforcement of evictions in England during the period of national restrictions and over the Christmas period.

  22. Guidance updated to reflect new national restrictions in England from 5 November.

  23. Guidance for landlords and tenants and technical guidance on eviction notices updated to reflect new regulations for the possession action process.

  24. Updated to reflect amended regulations and wider government public health advice.

  25. Guidance updated to reflect changes to wider government and public health advice.

  26. Guidance updated to reflect amended regulations and changes to wider government and public health advice.

  27. First published.

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