The life of a notice seeking possession of premises let in England under an assured shorthand tenancy - the commonly called section 21 notice - has been extended from six to ten months (by the Coronavirus Act 2020 (Residential Tenancies: Protection from Eviction) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020 SI 2020/747 and for more on those regulations see https://www.breakinglaw.co.uk).
But the above regulations failed to reflect the extended period in the prescribed notice that is Form 6A. That is put right by the Assured Tenancies and Agricultural Occupancies (Forms) (England) (Amendment) and Suspension (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 SI 2020/924 - cute title, eh? - which were made at 11.33am today and come into force tomorrow 02 September 2020. Although there is a current stay on bringing possession proceedings, there is no stay on a landlord serving a notice requiring possession on their tenant. This means that the revised section 21 notice should be used as from tomorrow and be for at least the increased period of six months. When that period reverts back to two months and the life of the section 21 notice to six months, the form will be reamended. Now, that's something to look forward to.
Good evening!
