This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Rejected petition Apply 3-month 'rent holidays' for renters during pandemic lockdown
Offer help to people who cannot claim housing benefits or other benefits. Renters should have the same protections as landlords, as halting housing possession action for 90 days is not a proper solution.
More details
Not everyone in the UK is eligible to claim benefits. In fact, there are many people who are struggling to pay rent, like full-time students. If the government has offered a 3-month 'mortgage holiday' to help landlords, then they should do it for renters too. People like full-time students and others who cannot claim benefits are either still paying full or partial rent. To discuss rent arrears with landlords is not always a solution, as people might not be able to reach an agreement.
This petition was rejected
Why was this petition rejected?
It’s about something that the UK Government or Parliament is not directly responsible for.
Suspending payments for rent is a matter for individual landlords, and not the UK Government or Parliament. The Government has introduced emergency legislation to suspend new evictions from social or private rented accommodation while this national emergency is taking place: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/complete-ban-on-evictions-and-additional-protection-for-renters
The Government's advice to tenants states that tenants should continue to pay rent and abide by all other terms of their tenancy agreement to the best of their ability, and that tenants who are unable to do so should speak to their landlord at the earliest opportunity: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/876500/Consolidated_Landlord_and_Tenant_Guidance_COVID_and_the_PRS_v4.2.pdf
We have published the following petitions, which you might like to sign:
Encourage lenders, landlords and utilities to freeze payments during lockdown: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/302256
Implement Universal Basic Income to give home and food security during the coronavirus outbreak: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/302284
You can find out about what Government support is available for people as a result of coronavirus (under the section on employment and financial support) here: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:
www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
The Government has also created an online service to help you out what you can do if you’re struggling because of coronavirus: https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support
You can read NHS tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips
You can read impartial analysis of the Government response to coronavirus and policy developments here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/coronavirus/
You may also be interested to know that because of the large number of petitions that have been started in relation to coronavirus, the Petitions Committee has been questioning the Government about its response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Find out more: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/192/the-governments-response-to-coronavirus/
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.