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<p>With the exception of evictions for trespass under rule 55.6 of the Civil Procedure
Rules, which were exempt from the stay on possession proceedings, HM Courts &
Tribunals Service county court bailiffs undertook no evictions during the period of
the stay from the 25 March 2020 to 21 September 2020.</p><p>The notice of eviction
(N54) advises tenants to seek help and advice about the eviction, or about re-housing
from an advice agency, solicitor or their local authority housing department. In addition,
as part of initiatives to assist tenants facing eviction, the notice must now also
include a list of local debt advice agencies who tenants can contact for further advice.
These steps have been put in place to support the existing legal, debt and housing
advice already available in many courts to tenants when attending possession hearings.</p><p>Subject
to statutory means and merits, legal aid is available for cases concerning evictions.
The Legal Aid Agency has recently launched a tender to secure additional housing legal
aid providers.</p><p>We are working with the judiciary on measures to support all
parties now possession hearings have resumed, and as part of this we are exploring
the option of mediation.</p>
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