The year 2020 will go down in history as the year of coronavirus, lockdowns and staying at home. However, recently published data shows that 2020 was also a record-breaking year for landlord and tenant activity.

Following months of pressure from various bodies representing landlords and tenants, the UK government has provided new funding for local authorities across England to support tenants who have fallen into arrears due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The £65 million fund will be allocated via local councils to ensure vulnerable people living in rental accommodation will not end up homeless this winter due to financial problems related to the pandemic.

As the UK begins to enjoy some normality after 18 months of Covid-19 fears and restrictions, the government is continuing to withdraw financial support from a variety of areas.

On Wednesday 27 October, the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, delivered his Autumn Budget for 2021. It’s been marketed as a generous package of increased spending to boost the nation’s post-Covid recovery, but as always there are winners and losers – and not everything in it is quite as straightforward as it seems.