The ban on evictions could be extended amid warnings that thousands of renters could lose their homes.
The government is said to be urgently working up plans to extend the ban in most instances, with an exception where there is clear evidence of "egregious behaviour" by the tenant, LBC reports.
Renters have been protected during the Covid-19 crisis by a Government ban announced in March, extended in June and due to end on Monday.
Charities are warning that tens of thousands of outgoing tenants could be unable to find or access affordable homes , prompting a “devastating homelessness crisis”, if this is lifted without extra protection.
Separately, the British Medical Association has warned of a potential surge in Covid-19 cases if the ban is not extended and homelessness increases, with homeless people more likely to have health conditions increasing their vulnerability.
Shelter said by the end of June some 174,000 renters had been warned by their landlord that they are facing eviction, and 58,000 moved out after being asked to leave during the lockdown. It estimates almost a quarter of a million renters had fallen behind on their rent by the end of June.
On Friday, Grant Shapps said the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will make “further announcements” regarding the temporary ban on evictions “shortly”.
Asked whether the Government will extend the temporary ban on evictions, the Transport Secretary told LBC: “Well I used to be housing minister so it is an area I know something about and of course what we did during the pandemic is allowed a significant period of time to make sure that nobody could be evicted for not paying their rent, perhaps because of their job situation.
“I know that getting that balance right between the renters and the landlords is something that my colleagues in the housing ministry are working closely on and I think they will make further announcements about it shortly which I’m not privy to right now.”
It is unlikely there will be a rush of possession hearings come Monday if the ban is not extended.
County courts will need to adapt to social distancing measures which will affect the volume of cases, while there is also a backlog of cases from before the pandemic.
Any landlord who has lodged a claim before early August will be required to issue a reactivation notice confirming they still wish to pursue it, with 21 days’ notice before the case can be heard.
They must also set out the effect of the pandemic on the tenant or risk proceedings being adjourned.
These delays mean in any event it is unlikely any cases would be heard until mid-September.
It is understood that the most serious cases will be prioritised, such as those where extreme arrears have built up, or involving anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse.
This suggests the bulk of Covid-19 cases are not likely to take place before the end of October – around the same time the Government’s Job Retention Scheme is due to stop.
Up to half a million people could be at risk of being evicted in the coming months, the District Councils Network (DCN) estimates.