Back to sleep—just
How could they? We got you all excited last time over the imminent expiry of the possession stay and then, three days before lift-off, the Lord Chancellor directs the rule committee to make rules to extend the stay further until 20 September 2020 (see ‘Civil way’, NLJ 14 August 2020). The committee met the next day, considered the ‘extremely unusual nature and timing’ of the direction, as the Master of the Rolls has put it, and—by a majority!—concluded that it was bound to follow the direction. The extension has been cursed—I mean, blessed—by the Civil Procedure (Amendment No 5) (Coronavirus) Rules 2020 (SI 2020/889) and CPR PD 55C has been consequentially amended (124th update). There has been no interference with the lifting of the stay on enforcement of writs and warrants of control on 23 August 2020. The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Residential Tenancies: Protection from Eviction) (Amendment) (England) Regulations
