The lowdown on the lockdown for tenants and landlords

All tenants who were due to move at the end of March will now need to remain in place until the nationwide lockdown ends,at this stage,  at midnight on April 30.

Andrew Schaefer, MD of national property management group Trafalgar said the State of Disaster regulations prohibit anyone from moving from one home to another during the lockdown period, and it would be advisable in these times for tenants to ensure that their new home has been properly cleaned and sanitised before they move in.

They will not be required to pay rent to the new landlord until they can take occupation as these circumstances are beyond their control, and the landlord/agent will not be able to let the property to someone else during lockdown, even if it is empty.

Mr Schaefer’s advice for landlords/rental agents with tenants currently in place who were supposed to move out by April 1, is to offer them a one-month extension on their lease so that they can also remain in place during the lockdown. They will also then be liable for rent for that month.

“Similarly, for those who have been given notice or have given notice to vacate their current home by April 1, the best option would be to talk to the landlord/ rental agent about getting a month’s extension yourself. This will of course make you liable for another month’s rent where you are,” he concluded.

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