The government's plan for renters is to ask landlords to 'show compassion' – this is what it means for tenants

The government is still grappling with the COVID-19 epidemic which, by all measures, is going to have a drastic impact on people's lives and the economy.

Two days ago (which we're sure you'll agree feels like a lifetime) Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson announced a raft of new measures to relieve stress on businesses. Homeowners were also told that there will be a three-month “mortgage holiday” where those who can’t pay their mortgages because of layoffs or business struggles can defer payments.

While many of these new measures were welcome, there seemed to be one glaring omission: renters.

At this point, there was no mention of a “renters' holiday” for the millions of British people who don’t own their own home.

Lots of people expressed anger and frustration at still having to pay rent, despite landlords being given a “mortgage holiday”.

So where are we now?​

Yesterday at Prime Minister’s Questions, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn pressed Johnson on his plans for renters, saying that they must be protected as a public health measure.

Johnson responded by saying that legislation will soon be introduced to make sure that no one is evicted as a result of coronavirus. He also said his government will avoid "pass[ing] on the problem" by "taking steps to protect other actors in the economy".

Housing associations also announced that they will not evict tenants who are affected by the virus and fall behind on rent payments. This was confirmed by Kate Henderson of the National Housing Federation, which represents housing associations in England.

But it still wasn't clear exactly what was going to happen with regards to renters being expected to pay rent.Will they get a holiday too?

Now the government has announced that there will be a three-month ban on all evictions, meaning that renters won't be able to be evicted if they've lost their jobs and are unable to pay rent during this time.

Responding to Johnson’s evictions announcement, Jon Sparkes, chief executive of homelessness charity Crisis said in a statement:

It’s reassuring to hear that the government is planning to bring forward legislation to protect renters during the COVID-19 outbreak.

People renting need to know that, in these uncertain times, they’ll be able to keep a roof over their head come what may. 

This possibility of not being able to pay rent because of illness or lack of work as a result of coronavirus is understandably worrying people.

But after the government published its plans for renters, some felt like the plans don't go far enough and there are still lots of unanswered questions. For instance:

Can people who've not paid a full three months' rent be evicted as soon as this three-month eviction ban is over?

Will the eviction ban be extended?

What happens to people who are left in debt from owing rent to landlords (who've just had a mortgage holiday)?

Among the most contentious parts of the government's new guidelines is a section which reads:

At the end of this period, landlords and tenants will be expected to work together to establish an affordable repayment plan...The government will also issue guidance which asks landlords to show compassion.

Understandably, people on social media aren't exactly comforted by the idea that they're currently relying on landlords to "show compassion".

So what are housing organisations saying?

Shelter welcomed the announcement. Polly Neate, chief executive at Shelter, said:

News the government is to legislate [to] stop renters being evicted from their homes during the coronavirus crisis will come as a great relief to many people. Without this decisive action tens of thousands of renters would have faced eviction in the coming months, while potentially trying to isolate and protect themselves and others.  

The government has done the right thing. There are 20 million renters in England who will benefit from this protection – which is a vital emergency measure to keep people safe and in their homes.

But others, including Generation Rent, warned that the guidelines don't go far enough. Dan Wilson Craw, director of Generation Rent, called on the government to offer rent relief:

We have already heard from renters who are losing work as a result of the outbreak and have been given eviction notices. This announcement will give them welcome short-term respite.

 

But there is nothing here that will help renters who get into arrears to find the money to pay them off at the end of their landlord's mortgage holiday. Levels of housing benefit have fallen behind market rents and new claimants face delays in getting payments. To ensure renters don't fall into debt, the government now needs to offer rent relief.