HMO's & covid preventing evictions.

[Parmavioletmum]

I've got a friend who is currently living in a HMO property. Lovely room, great price etc. The only problem she has is one of the other tenants is clearly on drugs and is causing endless issues. Having people over all the time, going mad at 3/4 am and damaging the communal areas of the house.
The letting agent have been amazingly supportive, have tried talking to the tenant, and have even offered to move her as she feels her safety is at risk. They've been so apologetic but have explained that they simply aren't able to evict anyone on any grounds atm due to the blanket policy on evictions because of covid. We've looked through all the policies and can't see anyway either that they can evict.
Surely there must be something we are all missing? If one tenant is putting the safety of all others at risk there must be a way to get rid of them.

Please does anyone have any knowledge to help in this situation.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/903292/Landlord_and_Tenant_Guidance_July_Update_EComms_Copy_.pdf

As a landlord I would be offering an incentive to the problem tenant, explain that the living arrangement doesn't seem to be working out and I am aware of tensions. I would say we will give them the rent back for August as well as deposit if they want to leave and try and go the softly softly route first to get the keys back. Can always evict later but no harm in trying for an amicable end to things first and nothing lost while can't evict anyway. This approach is still cheaper than full on eviction

Thank you for such speedy replied. On reading that document I'm interpreting it that they can still process evictions they just couldn't apply for court support until the 24th August so if they went quietly it shouldn't be too much of an issue. So that's been incredibly helpful.

There is currently a stay on all possession proceedings. This will be lifted on 23 August. The notice period for s8 and s21 notices is currently 3 months, previously it was 14 days and 2 months respectively. You can still serve notice but due to the change in notice periods you wouldn't be able to commence proceedings until the notice period has expired.