People arriving in England from Portugal, Hungary, French Polynesia and Réunion from 4am Saturday 12 September 2020 will need to self-isolate for 2 weeks as these countries and territories are removed from the travel exemptions list.

Using the targeted islands policy announced this week, the government has been able to differentiate between Madeira and the Azores (which do not show a significant increase in cases), and the rest of Portugal. This means that passengers arriving in England from Madeira and the Azores will not need to self-isolate, but those arriving from Portugal and its other islands will need to self-isolate as it will be removed from the travel corridor exemption list.

The government has made consistently clear it will take decisive action if necessary to contain the virus, and data from the Joint Biosecurity Centre and Public Health England has indicated a significant change in both the level and pace of confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Portugal, Hungary, French Polynesia and Réunion.

Data shows that there has been a consistent increase in newly reported cases in Portugal over the past 3 weeks, with an 81% increase in newly reported cases over 7 days from 1464 to 2652 between 26 August and 9 September. Data from Hungary shows a 192% increase in newly reported cases over the past week, with the number of cases increasing from 1042 between 27 August and 2 September to 3047 between 3 and 9 September, indicating a sharp rise in COVID-19.

Data shows that there has been a consistent increase in newly reported cases in French Polynesia over the past 4 weeks, with a 77% increase in newly reported cases over 7 days from 78 to 138 between 19 August and 9 September. There has been a consistent increase in newly reported cases in Réunion over the past 4 weeks, with a 231% increase in newly reported cases over 7 days from 201 to 667 between 19 August and 9 September.

This has led to Ministers removing them from the travel exemptions list, meaning people will need to self-isolate when arriving from these countries to contain the spread of the virus and protect lives.

Sweden has been added to the government’s travel corridors list following a decrease in confirmed cases of coronavirus. From 4am on Saturday 12 September 2020, passengers arriving to England from Sweden will no longer need to self-isolate so long as they haven’t been in or transited through any other non-exempt countries, territories or regions in the 14 days preceding their arrival.

At the same time, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has also updated its travel advice to advise against all but essential travel to mainland Portugal, Hungary, French Polynesia and Réunion and is no longer advising against non essential travel to Sweden.

People currently in Portugal, Hungary, French Polynesia and Réunion are encouraged to follow the local rules and check the FCDO travel advice for further information. The government is urging employers to be understanding of those returning from these destinations who now will need to self-isolate.

COVID-19 has profoundly changed the nature of international travel. Travellers should always check the latest advice from the FCDO, given the potential for changing coronavirus infection rates to affect both the advice about travelling to other countries and rules about self-isolation on return.

Before travelling, people should find out about any entry restrictions, screening or quarantine requirements at their destination that might affect them. People should check travel advice and contact the UK-based embassy of the destination they are travelling to if they need more information.

All travellers, including those from exempt destinations, will still be required to show a completed passenger locator form on arrival into the UK unless they fall into a small group of exemptions. It is vital that all travellers returning to the UK complete a passenger locator form, to help us to protect public health and ensure those who need to are complying with self-isolation rules where they apply. Border Force carry out spot checks, and travellers who refuse to provide their contact details face a fine starting at £100.

Renters affected by coronavirus will continue to be supported over autumn and winter through comprehensive measures confirmed today (10 September 2020) by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick.

The government has changed the law to increase notice periods to 6 months meaning renters now served notice can stay in their homes over winter, with time to find alternative support or accommodation.

The only exceptions to this are the most egregious cases, including where tenants have demonstrated anti-social behaviour or committed fraud, and the landlord rightly would like to re-let their property to another tenant.

The Housing Secretary has also today confirmed that with coronavirus still posing a risk, if an area is in a local lockdown that includes a restriction on gathering in homes, evictions will not be enforced by bailiffs.

This support builds on the unprecedented package the government has put in place to help communities through the pandemic, including support for businesses to pay staff salaries and strengthening the welfare safety-net with a nearly £9.3 billion boost to the welfare system. This includes an extra £1 billion to increase Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates so that they cover the lowest 30% of market rents, meaning we now spend £25 billion supporting households to meet the cost of rent in the private and social rented sectors.

For those renters who require additional support, there is an existing £180 million of government funding for Discretionary Housing Payments made available this year, an increase of £40 million from last year and which is for councils to distribute to support renters with housing costs.

We will keep these measures under constant review and our decisions will continue to be guided by the latest public health advice and support with housing costs may also be available for those on low incomes or who are out of work eligible for Universal Credit.

No landlord, including those who only rent out a single property, has had access to the courts since March, including to regain possession in cases where the tenant has broken the law. So it is right that landlords are able to access justice, alongside measure to protect the vulnerable. The government would like to thank landlords for their forbearance during this difficult time.

From 21 September courts will start to hear possession hearings again. When cases are heard again these will be subject to new court processes and procedures which the Judiciary have developed. These include:

• The prioritisation of cases, such as those involving anti-social behaviour and other crimes, as well as extreme rent arrears where landlords would otherwise face unmanageable debts.
• No cases from before 3 August 2020 will immediately proceed to hearing, but will have to be ‘re-activated’ by the landlord and then subject to a new review hearing, at least four weeks before the substantive hearing.
• Landlords will also need to provide the courts and Judges with information on how tenants have been affected by the pandemic. Where this information is not provided, judges will be able to adjourn proceedings until the information is provided.

There will also be a ‘winter truce’ on the enforcement of evictions, with no evictions permitted in England and Wales in the run up to and over Christmas except in the most serious circumstances, such as cases involving anti-social behaviour or domestic abuse. This will ensure vulnerable tenants are not forced from their homes at a time when public and local authorities may be dealing with the usual level of increased demand for services during this time. To achieve this, guidance will be issued to bailiffs that they should not enforce possession orders in the weeks of Christmas.

Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said:

We have protected renters during the pandemic by banning evictions for 6 months – the longest eviction ban in the UK. To further support renters we have increased notice periods to 6 months, an unprecedented measure to help keep people in their homes over the winter months.

It’s right that we strike a balance between protecting vulnerable renters and ensuring landlords whose tenants have behaved in illegal or anti-social ways have access to justice. Our legislation means such cases will be subject to shorter notice periods and then prioritised through the judiciary’s new court processes.

The government has taken unprecedented action to support renters during the pandemic, preventing people getting into financial hardship and helping businesses to pay salaries.

The vast majority of landlords have shown understanding and leadership, taking action to support tenants despite facing hardship themselves. According to independent research, 87% of tenants have continued to pay full rent since the start of the pandemic, with a further 8% agreeing reduced fees with their landlords.

The government is committed to striking the right balance in the relationship between landlords and tenants and new guidance will be published before the stay on possession proceedings ends to help both understand their rights under the court system and the financial support available.

Restarting possession proceedings is an important step towards transitioning out of emergency measures and allowing the market to operate while ensuring people have appropriate access to justice.

The stay on possession proceedings was introduced at the end of March in response to the pandemic in order to protect public health. The stay was extended in June and was due to expire on 23 August 2020. On 21 August, this stay on proceedings was extended for a further month, bringing the suspension to a total of six months. No action to evict a tenant will proceed in the courts before 21 September 2020.

Where tenants do experience financial difficulties as a result of the pandemic, the government is clear that landlords and tenants should work together and exhaust all possible options – such as flexible payment plans which take into account a tenant’s individual circumstances – to ensure cases only end up in court as an absolute last resort.

We are very conscious of the pressure on landlords and do not want to exacerbate this. It is important to stress that tenants who are able to do so must continue to pay their rent.

We also understand that there are some cases where it is right that landlords should be able to start progressing cases quicker, because of the pressure they place on landlords, other tenants and local communities.

Therefore, notice periods for the most serious circumstances have been shortened. From 29 August, notice periods must be at least 4 weeks where over six months of rent is due (if less than 6 months is owed, then 6 months’ notice must be given).

Environment Agency officers working with Kent Police, Swale Borough Council, Kent County Council, BT Openreach and Kent Fire and Rescue joined forces to raid an industrial site at Raspberry Hill near Sittingbourne.

The action took place following reports of building waste being illegally stored, drug dealing, metal/cable theft and planning regulation breaches. The raid is part of an ongoing Environment Agency action to crack down on illegal waste crime in the area, and led to obtaining vital evidence and information. Investigations are ongoing.

As part of the raid, Kent Police also arrested 3 men who were taken into custody, and they found illegal drugs and seized a caravan, two dogs and two agricultural mowers, which are suspected to have been stolen.

Everyone involved in the raid made sure the raid was conducted with social distancing rules in place with correct PPE to make sure everyone involved was safe.

Sally Harvey, Area Director for the Environment Agency, said:

It’s our job to protect people and the environment even in these uncertain times, which is why our regulatory and enforcement work continues while we adhere to the government’s guidelines around coronavirus.

We and our partners are fighting to put a stop to waste crime and we won’t hesitate to take action. Joint investigations will continue and if convicted as a result of illegal action, those responsible could face extensive fines and even prison sentences.

To help avoid your waste ending up at an illegal waste site, ask for your waste collector’s waste carrier’s registration number and to see their waste transfer note; they must have them.

Chief Inspector Alan Rogers, Kent Police’s District Commander for Swale, said:

We are committed to working with, and supporting, our partners on issues that we know affect the communities we serve.

The combined use of our powers helps us ensure that robust and proportionate action is taken. We will continue to work with our partners, including the Environment Agency, to help achieve the best possible results for our neighbourhoods.

Anyone who suspects illegal waste activity is reminded to report it to our 24 hour hotline by calling 0800 80 70 60, or anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

You can check your waste collectors waste carrier’s registration or call 03708 506 506.

Earlier this year the Environment Agency and partners launched the Joint Unit for Waste Crime, aiming to stop serious and organised crime in the UK waste industry.

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