Propertymark has joined the High Court Enforcement Officers Association (HCEOA) in urging landlords and property professionals to fill in a sector-wide survey to gather feedback on current issues.
The survey aimed to find out when taking High Court action is suitable and what services are needed in future.
The HCEOA wanted to hear from landlords and agents across the country to help improve services going forward.
The survey also looked at regional differences in how well county courts handle housing cases, as there have been ongoing reports of long delays in some parts of the country.
Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, said: “Propertymark member agents cite delays at every stage of the possession action process in the County Court, which begins from the initial claim up to the eventual possession by a County Court Bailiff and is the product of many contributing factors.
“To this end, enforcement timings can drastically differ from region to region. We know that when using a High Court Enforcement Officer, the execution of a Possession Order is notably quicker.
“It is therefore vital that the UK Government looks at reform in this area to improve access to justice in the private rented sector.”
Michael Jackson, vice-chair of the HCEOA, said: “We are pleased to be working with Propertymark and other partners on this research.
“The reality is that the system is stretched, and landlords simply can’t afford to wait months on end.
“It’s clear that this postcode lottery of delays in County Court evictions is proving to be a real nightmare for landlords in some parts of the country.”
Jackson added: “High Court enforcement isn’t a magic wand, and it won’t be the right choice for every landlord right now, but it can certainly help those facing the worst delays in evictions, which are unfairly costing landlords thousands of pounds.”
