THE Mayor of London is causing needless fear for renters as he wrongly assumes that everyone in arrears due to COVID-19 is at threat of eviction.

The national body representing landlords has accused the Mayor of scaremongering when he claims that up to a quarter of tenants are in arrears and under threat of eviction.

With the courts due to begin again to hear possession cases from 24th August following a five month suspension, the National Residential Landlords Association is pointing to new polling showing that 95 per cent  of tenants in London are either paying their rent in full or have reached an arrangement with their landlord to avoid arrears. This includes 83 per cent who are paying their rent in full and on time. For the remaining 12 per cent landlords have agreed for tenants to pay less rent or defer payment during the pandemic.

The Association has written to the Mayor calling for a greater collaboration between him and private landlords. It is also calling for an end to the rhetoric which is stoking up tensions between tenants and landlords when what is needed is a spirit of partnership and understanding between both sides. 

New rules being introduced will mean courts can adjourn possession cases where landlords have failed to demonstrate that they have fully taken account of the impact that the pandemic might have had on their tenants before seeking possession.

Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: 

“This has clearly been a challenging time for tenants and landlords across London. It is not in anyone's interests to cause unnecessary anxiety for tenants through making wild predictions about people losing their home.

“The vast majority of tenants and landlords are working well together to weather the current crisis. With new court rules in place, it will be in the interests of landlords to do everything they can to sustain tenancies where possible.

“It is that spirit of co-operation that we need to build upon.”

-ENDS-

Notes:

·         A copy of the letter sent to the Mayor can be accessed at: https://www.nrla.org.uk/mayor-of-london-open-letter.

·         The NRLA commissioned the marketing research firm, Dynata, to understand the impact that coronavirus has had on tenants in the private rented sector.  The fieldwork was carried out between 20th July and 4th August.  It is based on the responses of 2,243 tenants in England and Wales. One of the question's asked of tenants was: “Since the coronavirus measures were introduced from 17th March 2020 onwards, have you built-up any arrears in your rent payments?” Of the 457 tenants in London who responded to the survey:

-       380 said they had paid their rent as usual throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

-       23 said that due to a change in circumstances, they had agreed a reduced rent or rent-free period with their landlord/letting agent, so did not build up any arrears.

-       20 said they previously had no arrears but had reduced or deferred the amount of rent they were paying with the agreement of their landlord/letting agent and now have arrears.

-       12 said they had agreed a rent window with their landlord/letting agent which now needs paying back

·         A survey of 1,305 members of the NRLA in England and Wales was conducted between 12th June and 5th July covering the second quarter of 2020 by the polling firm BVA BDRC.

·         The NRLA's guidance on managing rent arrears as a result of COVID-19 can be accessed at: https://www.nrla.org.uk/resources/managing-your-tenancy/managing-arrears-effectively.

·         Further information about the NRLA can be found at www.nrla.org.uk.  It tweets @NRLAssociation.

·         For further information contact Ed Jacobs by emailing ed.jacobs@publicaffairsco.com or ring 07706386773.