The government has made a last minute U-turn on the eviction ban - extending it for four weeks until September 20.
The Housing Law Practitioners Association has tweeted this afternoon: “We have now had official confirmation that the stay on possession proceedings will be extended to September 20.”
It was also announced that new six month notice period has been introduced.
Ben Beadle, CEO of the National Residential Landlords Association said: “A blanket extension is unacceptable, especially so close to the deadline.
“An enormous amount of work has gone into finding a balance between supporting tenants who have been affected by the pandemic and preventing significant financial harm to landlords, in accordance with the Government’s promise. This announcement satisfies no one.
“Landlords have been left powerless in exercising their legal right to deal with significant arrears unrelated to Covid-19, anti-social behaviour and extremely disruptive tenants who make life miserable for their neighbours and housemates.
“Private landlords cannot be expected to foot the bill for government failure. There must now be a plan to support households to pay their bills and to compensate landlords fully for their lost income.
“Only this will give both tenants and landlords security and reduce the risk of widespread tenancy failure.”
The government confirmed today that when hearings restart the judiciary will prioritise the most serious cases including those involving anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse and arrears spanning over a year.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick, who made the announcement, confirmed the six month notice period - which will apply to all bar serious cases of anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse - will be in place until the end of March.
He said: "I know this year has been challenging and all of us are still living with the effects of COVID-19. That is why today I am announcing a further four week ban on evictions, meaning no renters will have been evicted for six months.
"I am also increasing protections for renters – six-month notice periods must be given to tenants, supporting renters over winter.
"However, it is right that the most egregious cases, for example those involving anti-social behaviour or domestic abuse perpetrators, begin to be heard in court again; and so when courts reopen, landlords will once again be able to progress these priority cases."