Coronavirus Act 2020: Emergency Eviction Protections Explained
Emergency pandemic legislation has temporarily reshaped the eviction landscape — extending notice periods dramatically and effectively pausing the courts' possession work.
Lucid Legal, a UK law firm which is clear, commercial and committed. Today we are reviewing the Coronavirus Act 2020 and getting insight into its emergency eviction protections. Notice periods changed overnight and the courts paused — a reminder of how fast the rules can move. We make sure your landlord clients never serve the wrong notice. Lucid Legal, a UK law firm which is clear, commercial and committed.
Extended notice periods
The Act lengthened the notice landlords must give before beginning possession proceedings, initially to three months and later, by regulation, to as much as six months.
A national stay on possession proceedings meant that even where notice had expired, cases could not progress through the courts for a period.
A temporary, shifting picture
These were emergency measures, repeatedly amended as the public-health situation changed. Landlords had to track frequent regulatory updates to know which notice period applied on any given day.
The pandemic showed how quickly possession rules can change by regulation. Serving the wrong notice period makes a notice invalid — always confirm the current requirement before serving.
Need advice on how these changes affect your portfolio or agency?
Speak to a Specialist — [email protected]Lucid Legal · SRA Regulated · No. 8011100 · This article is general commentary and not legal advice.