Derby City Council are urging landlords to seek alternative solutions to tenancy issues once the Government’s eviction ban comes to an end on Monday 31 May.

The emergency measures came into effect last year in order to protect those hit financially by the COVID-19 pandemic, however once the ban ends landlords will be able to serve eviction notices again with at least 14 days’ notice.

Now landlords in the private rented sector (PRS) are being urged to use Derby City Council’s Call B4 You Serve scheme, which was recently recognised as best practice by the Local Government Association.

Call Before You Serve is a free, specialist and impartial service for Private Rented Sector landlords, and is designed to help them avoid serving an eviction notice by dealing with tenancy issues early.

The service is operated by Derby Homes on behalf of Derby City Council and provides a range of services including:

  • Help creating a personalised housing plan
  • Help to resolve rent arrears and a financial assessment for tenants
  • Advice and signposting about leasing properties to support housing providers.
  • A free tenant-finding service for any vacant properties.

By working with the service, landlords have been able to avoid lengthy and costly legal challenges, and keep their properties filled.

Cllr Roy Webb, Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Housing, acknowledged the difficulties landlords had faced and supported the use of the CB4YS scheme. He said:

The coronavirus pandemic has left many people struggling with rent payments, leaving landlords out of pocket and with no way of retrieving arrears.

While eviction may seem like a quick solution, alternatives should be considered and Call Before You Serve can help identify these. By working with the team, many landlords have been able to keep their properties occupied and have avoided the lengthy and costly legal challenges that come with an eviction.

We’re committed to working with both city landlords and tenants to help them work through any tenancy issues, in order to keep people in their homes and support landlords to achieve secure and reliable tenancies.

To get in touch with the service, landlords should call 01332 956444 or email prs@derbyhomes.org. More information can be found on the Derby City Council website.