Petition · past parliament
Apply 3-month 'rent holidays' for renters during pandemic lockdown
Rejected
19 signatures
What the petition asks
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.
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.
Why it was rejected
It asked for something that is not the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.
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: Encourage lenders, landlords and utilities to freeze payments during lockdown
Implement Universal Basic Income to give home and food security during the coronavirus outbreak: Implement Universal Basic Income to give home & food security through Covid-19
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/
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: Encourage lenders, landlords and utilities to freeze payments during lockdown
Implement Universal Basic Income to give home and food security during the coronavirus outbreak: Implement Universal Basic Income to give home & food security through Covid-19
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/
Timeline
| 17 Apr 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 29 May 2020 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
19
Status
Rejected
Rejected
29 May 2020
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.