Thousands of landlords are facing an uncertain future. Coronavirus has caused viewings to grind to a halt and some tenants to lose their jobs, meaning they may struggle to pay rent.
Many buy-to-let owners are confused about what their obligations are to tenants at the moment and what financial support they can claim to stop their income from drying up during the pandemic.
Here we answer some key questions affecting the rental market, from whether landlord insurance covers coronavirus to when running a buy-to-let counts as being self-employed.
Do you still have to undertake maintenance work?
Landlords’ repair obligations have not changed in light of the coronavirus outbreak. The Government has advised all households to practise social distancing so it may not be advisable for landlords to visit properties to assess issues themselves. An alternative option could be to do so remotely via video call.
Chris Norris of the National Residential Landlords Association, a trade body, said some landlords were having trouble securing contractors at the moment, which could make it hard for them to ensure their property met legal requirements. He advised buy-to-let owners to keep records of their efforts if they are not able to resolve maintenance problems.
The Government has said that tenants and landlords should take a pragmatic approach to non-urgent issues. “That means, provided a landlord can show they have taken all reasonable steps, they are unlikely to be considered in breach of their duties,” Mr Norris said.
Are tenants still obligated to pay rent during coronavirus?
The Government has made it clear that tenants should “continue to pay rent and abide by all other terms of their tenancy agreement to the best of their ability”.
Tenants who have lost their jobs could seek support from the benefits system. However benefits payments are low and in cases where renters are unable to pay, property owners could make use of the three-month mortgage holiday currently on offer in order to give them some breathing space.
Mr Norris said tenants and landlords doing this would still need to agree a suitable schedule for the repayment of the rent that had been suspended.
Can landlords still evict tenants?
The Government has said that landlords can still evict tenants but have extended the notice period they must give from two to three months. The courts have also suspended all existing repossession cases for 90 days.
Phil Stewardson, one of the Telegraph’s Property Doctors, will be answering your questions about being a landlord during the pandemic, including how to safely carry out checks, what to do with tenants and tips on government help you can apply for at 1 p.m. (BST) today.
How to ask a question
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