The government has given its backing to a backbench bill aimed at protecting tenants from the consequences of their landlord having property repossessed. The Mortgage Repossessions (Protection of Tenants etc) Bill, tabled by backbench MP Dr Brian Iddon, will allow judges to delay repossession of a property by up to two months, giving tenants the time they need to find a new home. The Bill received its second reading in the House of Commons last week.
Housing Minister John Healey said that the Bill
will ensure that tenants are not subject to the distress and disruption of short notice eviction and will allow judges to have the power to stop tenants from being thrown out onto the street and instead offer them breathing space to find somewhere else to live.
Currently, where landlords have not informed their mortgage lender that they are renting out a property and obtained consent to let, existing tenants are not taken into consideration when the court is granting a repossession order.
