Letting agents’ trade body Propertymark is calling on the government to urgently reform the courts system, warning that landlords are waiting an average of 68 weeks from filing a claim to regaining possession of their property.
The industry body says the figure – more than three times longer than the 20-week average recorded in 2019 – is deterring investment in the private rented sector and leaving compliant landlords exposed to financial losses running into thousands of pounds.
Four-point reform plan
Propertymark is demanding four specific actions from Keir Starmer’s government:
- Greater resourcing for the court system
- Digitisation of possession claims to speed up administration
- Introduction of a specialist Housing Tribunal
- An automatic right to transfer cases to High Court Enforcement Officers
The body says operational issues including administrative backlogs, repeated adjournments, and bailiff enforcement delays are becoming “more entrenched” rather than improving.
This follows Residential Landlord’s analysis of court delays, which found landlords in some regions face average waits of eight months or more to recover their property, with costs exceeding £27,000 per case in London.
Financial losses mounting
Propertymark says at the point of eviction, average unpaid rent stands at £12,708 across England and Wales. In London, that figure rises to £19,223.
The trade body warns that landlords face “months of lost rent, ongoing mortgage payments, and legal costs” while cases work their way through the system. Agents, meanwhile, must manage increasingly complex and prolonged disputes.
A Propertymark statement says: “A lack of investment and reform in the court system is a key driver of these issues. Without adequate resourcing, landlords and tenants are both left waiting for outcomes, costs will increase, and disputes will be prolonged.”
RRA deadline adds pressure
The call for reform comes as the Renters Rights Act takes effect on 1 May, abolishing Section 21 no-fault evictions and requiring all possession claims to proceed through the courts on specified grounds.
Industry groups have repeatedly warned that abolishing Section 21 without first fixing court capacity will lead to longer delays and greater uncertainty for both landlords and tenants.
The Propertymark statement adds: “Landlords must be confident they can recover their property quickly when necessary, otherwise confidence in the market will decline.”
Opinion
The 68-week figure is striking – but not surprising. Courts have been underfunded for years, and the government has pressed ahead with abolishing Section 21 without meaningfully addressing capacity. The four reforms Propertymark is demanding are sensible, but without Treasury commitment to funding them, landlords should prepare for delays to get worse before they get better.
