Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Advice to industry
Letting agents and private landlords
Tenants’ safety should be letting agents’ and landlords’ first priority. The
government has put in place protections for tenants during the coronavirus
outbreak, including legislation to delay when landlords are able to start
proceedings to evict tenants. This means until 30 September 2020, most
landlords will not be able to start possession proceedings unless they have
given their tenants three-months’ notice.
This guidance for landlords and letting agents is to help them safely let
empty properties, or properties which tenants are voluntarily vacating. While
broader measures to protect tenants during the coronavirus outbreak remain in
place, letting agents and landlords should endeavour to avoid ending tenancies
where the tenant wants and is able to stay.
Letting agents and landlords should be aware of and follow government
guidance on coronavirus and
renting, which explains these
protections in greater detail, and make sure tenants are aware of this
guidance.

Private landlords and letting agents should not conduct viewings in properties where tenants are symptomatic or self-isolating, or where it has been determined that they are clinically extremely vulnerable and are shielding.
In other cases, where viewings can proceed, they should be conducted in line with the guidance on viewings earlier in this document.
Any visits to a property must be made in accordance with government’s guidelines on working in other people’s homes and social distancing.
If possible, necessary repairs, gas and electrical safety checks should be conducted in the period between a property being vacated and a new tenant moving in. If this is not possible and visits are needed to an occupied property, this should be done by appointment with measures put in place to ensure physical contact is minimised, for example with residents staying in another room during the visit.
Landlords should make every effort to abide by gas and electrical safety requirements, which continue to be of great importance for tenants’ safety. This may be more difficult due to restrictions associated with the coronavirus outbreak, for example where a tenant has coronavirus symptoms, is self-isolating or shielding. Under such circumstances, provided the landlord can demonstrate they have taken reasonable steps to comply, they would not be in breach. See further Health and Safety Executive guidance on how to deal with specific circumstances. Letting agents may also want to consider obtaining landlord and tenant consent for inventory clerk appointments to also occur before a tenant moves in or after a tenant moves out during vacant periods if possible.
Letting agents and landlords should take steps to ensure any properties are prepared ready for new tenants, this may include cleaning to minimise any potential spread of the virus in line with government advice.
Letting agents and landlords should consider how best to conduct tenancy check-ins for new tenancies agreed while broader measures remain in place, taking care to follow government advice on social distancing to minimise possible spread of coronavirus.
Letting agents and landlords are reminded of the temporary COVID-19 measures that adjust right to rent checks, temporarily allowing these checks to be conducted remotely. Lettings agents and landlords should consider other areas where in person payments, referencing or checks can be conducted remotely instead and take further advice if required.