Tenancy ends in a week, asked to hand back keys

[Doughnutsandducks]

My friends tenancy agreement comes to an end in a week. Her landlord has asked her to hand back the keys, she has had no income due to coronavirus and has no savings left after these past few months. I'm a bit stumped with advice, so if anyone has any, please pass it on and I can pass it along.

I thought you couldn't be evicted at the moment?
YABU- You can be evicted now
YANBU- You can't be evicted at the moment

England? Point her at the how to rent guide which she should have been given.

she does not need to leave or pay rent, same as normal. Landlords cannot end tenancies, only courts/bailiffs can. Eviction takes six months in normal times assuming a valid notice.

no, I'm not condoning not paying rent but she will be breaking no laws.

It's not very clear cut about who can be evicted. Boris said no "no fault evictions" I'm not sure end of tenancy counts as eviction though.

I would suggest she stays in the property and pays as much rent as she can and looking after the property. While trying to line up other accommodation. He'll struggle to force an eviction at this time, and it takes a long time anyway.

The best thing she can do is stay in the property. There won't be much he can do at this moment in time to remove her. She needs to get in touch with the council if at all possible.

@clareOclareO that is wrong. Notice must be give if under s21, which is currently 3 months and cannot be given during the fixed term. If s8 g8 2 weeks notice needs to be given. If only a possession order took "a few weeks". About 3 months at the earliest during normal times. However as I pointed out above the courts are staying any s55 applications for 3 months. So . . . nothing will happen for at least 3 to 6 months. In this case I presume the fixed term is coming to its end. The tenant just needs to remain and it will rollover to a statutory periodic or contractual periodic tenancy. As other posters have said she needs to claim universal credit.

Speak to shelter if she can. She needs to refuse to leave as she has not been given proper notice. Even in normal circumstances she would have a right to stay. If the landlord wants her to leave he needs to serve proper notice.