The government has extended the evictions ban by two months until at least 31st May 2021

Ministers have indicated this could be the final extension, promising a "new approach" from June this year.

The ban is an extension of the stay on bailiff eviction that has been repeated several times during the Covid pandemic and was due to expire on March 31st.

Also, as well as the bailiff evictions ban, landlords will still have to give tenants six months’ notice of their intention to evict as they do now, but also until May 31^st.

This means in effect, a landlord who gives notice of eviction on 31May will not be able to seek to gain possession this way until November.

But the bailiff eviction extension is potentially the most disappointing news for the thousands of landlords waiting to evict tenants and who already have warrants lined up, who must now wait a further two months to seek possession of their properties.

As before, there will still be circumstances under which tenants can be evicted including anti-social behaviour, domestic violence, trespass and extreme rent arrears.

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick says: “It is right that as we move through the roadmap, we ensure that renters continue to be supported.

“We have taken unprecedented action to support both commercial and residential tenants throughout the pandemic – with a £280 billion economic package to keep businesses running and people in jobs and able to meet their outgoings, such as rent.

“These measures build on the government’s action to provide financial support as restrictions are lifted over the coming months – extending the furlough scheme, business rates holiday and the Universal Credit uplift.”

The government also extended the ban on commercial evictions until 30 June 2021, which it says will help firms as they re-open after lockdown.