The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has warned that the Government is not facing up to the state of the court system after the end of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions.
Ministry of Justice data showed landlords waited over seven months to regain a property through the courts in Q1 2025.
This went up from 29.8 weeks a year earlier to 32.5 weeks.
Ministers said courts will be ready for the Renters’ Rights Bill, but the NRLA said this is not the case.
With Section 21 ending, landlords will have to rely on the courts for possession claims.
During the Renters’ Rights Bill Committee Stage in the House of Lords, Housing Minister Baroness Taylor said possession cases take an average of eight weeks.
The NRLA said this only covers the time from making a claim to getting a possession order, not the full time it takes to get a property back which often takes over half a year.
The NRLA autumn 2024 survey of over 1,400 landlords found 96% had little or no confidence in the courts’ ability to cope after the Renters’ Rights Bill is passed.
The NRLA called on the Government to set out a clear plan for court reform.
The association said this should include standards for “court readiness”, funding for quicker processing, and regular reporting on court performance.
Ben Beadle, CEO at the NRLA, said: “Ministers are either unaware of the true state of the courts or are refusing to admit it.
“Their claims that the courts will be ‘ready’ for the impact of the Renters’ Rights Bill simply do not stack up.
“Seven months is an eternity for responsible landlords who may be dealing with serious rent arrears and for neighbours having to endure anti-social behaviour.”
Beadle added: “The government must stop burying its head in the sand and commit to a fully funded, detailed and deliverable plan to ensure the courts are fit for purpose.
“Without this, landlord confidence will continue to erode, undermining investment in supplying the rental homes that tenants desperately need.”
