Landlord Action, alongside PRS Mediation, will host a one-hour webinar today at 11am to provide agents and other property professionals with the latest information and guidance on rent arrears, courts and evictions.

Although the courts are open for business, they are facing a huge backlog of cases with some landlords reporting a wait of up to 12 months before possession orders are made.

The ban on evictions has been extended further until at least 31 March 2021, making it a whole year since evictions have been able to take place.

In addition, with nearly half a million adults in England having fallen behind on their rent last month, the government has set out details of its new Debt Respite Scheme – also known as Breathing Space, which is due to come into effect in May 2021. This will be available to any individual with problem debt and gives them legal protections from creditor action for up to 60 days.

During the webinar, Paul Shamplina, head of property at Hamilton Fraser and founder of Landlord Action, will meet with legal experts to discuss the changes.

He will be joined by Mike Morgan and Julie Ford from PRS Mediation who will outline the challenges landlords and tenants are facing and consider possible alternatives available to landlords to regain possession of their properties and recover rent arrears, without the delay and cost of legal proceedings.

He said: “Rent arrears debts are continuing to mount to the point where tenants simply won’t be able to catch up, leaving them at greater risk of eviction when the system is fully re-opened. This goes against the government’s intensions.

“I fully agree with The National Residential Landlords Association, that tenants who have been severely impacted by COVID-19 need further support beyond that of Universal Credit, as a matter of urgency.”

To join the webinar, register your details by clicking here.