Can you please tell me the latest facts on renting property in the uk?

[Roguishhunt]

I am self employed and will not be able to pay my rent because of Coronavirus, for however long it lasts.

I am going to default on my rent payments but my landlord is insisting that I pay and that he will take me to court if I do not.

What legal standing do I have in this situation? What can I do?

He cant do it for a long time yet that much is clear. Hopefully there will be legislation in time to stop them taking your deposit when rent arrears only came up after the initial outbreak.

He definitely won't be taking you to court for the next 3 months minimum though. No new applications for possession are being accepted and eviction is illegal as far as I understand it.

And that'll probably be extended at this rate.

Have you applied for universal credit?

He can’t take you to court for at least the next three months because court possession proceedings and eviction orders have been postponed / banned for that duration (and, let’s face it, very likely longer.)

After that it’s uncertain, but you needn’t worry for the time being about being evicted.

If universal credit dont cover your rent and you KNOW hes going to evict at the first opportunity, I'd start putting the rent element aside to save for a new place as soon as the courts re open.

Landlords are in for such a huge shock if they think they will get anywhere with courts making potentially illegal threats to intimidate tenants during such a crisis.

Apply for UC. Apply for a supermarket job, they are all advertising.

Ask for a rent reduction and repayment plan from your landlord, don't just tell him/her "I can't pay"

Join groups lobbying the govt to sort out cash support for the self employed....they have massively let this group down

Good luck x

www.gov.uk/universal-credit Self employed or self isolating can apply immediately.

Oh yes co op are taking on. My dad works for them and they are a really good company to work for hes been with them for nearly 20 years. (Doesnt feel like more than a week since he started and I was 14 tho. Cries.)

Asda and aldi are two others I've seen advertising.

Firstly you need to be 8 weeks in arrears before your LL can even start s8 proceedings for non-payment. The notice period for no fault is a minimum of 2 months. There also rules on the date the notice can be served.
The LL then has to get a court date (which takes a fair bit of time under normal circumstances so no will take longer).

You will have months before the LL can do anything.

Have they secured your deposit in a deposit scheme?

Things should be much clearer by then.

OP, the PP is correct here.

Put in an application for UC and providing you're not to self isolate, apply for work where you can.

It's really important though that you get in your application. It will start from tomorrow now.

Let him take you to court. He is in for a bit of a wait. Pay what you can in the meantime, but if you get your claim in, you should qualify for an advance fairly quickly.