Further to the Government’s announcement yesterday evening, and the clear instruction on all non-essential businesses to be closed, we will be closing our offices to the general public until further notice.

However, we will continue to be available to assist and manage emergency related issues.  We will still be available via email on management@victormichael.com/ accounts@victormichael.com

This has become a necessity to protect our clients, staff and contractors.

For those facing financial difficulties, have contracted Covid-19, are self-isolating or are self-employed, the Government has released advice on what you can do to get financial assistance, please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-for-those-affected-by-covid-19/support-for-those-affected-by-covid-19

If your tenant has been layed or has been informed that they have been let go due to the above, we have asked them to provide written proof of the same.

However, the Government has prepared a ‘wage package’ called the ’Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme’, where:

“…all UK employers will be able to access support to continue paying part of their employees’ salary for those employees that would otherwise have been laid off during this crisis.”

We have urged Tenants to should speak to their employers about this to see whether it would apply to them.

In the meantime, the following extract details specifically tenants and Landlords:

If you are experiencing financial difficulties meeting your mortgage repayments because of COVID-19, you may be entitled to a mortgage or rental holiday for 3 months. This includes if you are a landlord whose tenants are experiencing financial difficulties because of COVID-19. If you are a tenant experiencing financial difficulties because of COVID-19, the government will ensure you do not face the threat of eviction for at least 3 months:

• the government has agreed with mortgage lenders that they will offer repayment holidays of 3 months to households in financial difficulty due to COVID-19
• this will also apply to landlords whose tenants are experiencing financial difficulties because of COVID-19
• emergency legislation will be taken forward so that landlords will not be able to start proceedings to evict tenants for at least a 3 month period. This applies to private and social renters
• at the end of this period, landlords and tenants will be expected to work together to establish an affordable repayment plan, taking into account tenants’ individual circumstances

Essentially this means that, during the next 3 months, tenants who have difficulty in paying their rent, will be ‘protected’ from being evicted, however, this does not mean that rents are not due/waived, but deferred/delayed.

During the next 3 months, it is recommended that rents is paid as much as possible, after which both sides are expected to agree affordable payment plans to clear arrears and cover future rental amounts due.

We have been in discussions with HomeLet, our Rent Guarantee provider, who has confirmed to us that, at present, they will meet their obligations with existing policies but we would need to make you aware that the policy contains a clause regarding ‘Force Majeure’, which they may decide to enact

‘Force Majeure’ means “unforeseeable circumstances that prevent someone from fulfilling a contract”.

However, please note that any legal action will the subject to the above ‘protection’ for those who have been directly affected by Covid-19.

Separately, they have informed us that they are not accepting any new applications, until further notice.