Recent data released by the Ministry of Justice reveals that courts are taking more than half a year to process legitimate possession claims initiated by private landlords. The average duration from the filing of a legitimate possession claim to the actual return of the property is nearly 29 weeks, a period notably exceeding legal guidelines, according to the Ministry of Justice.
The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) is expressing concern over the extended wait times, particularly when tenants may be engaging in anti-social behaviour or failing to meet rent obligations during this protracted period. The figures also highlight an average of more than 11 weeks between a private landlord submitting a repossession claim and obtaining a court order to proceed.
With the impending end of section 21 repossessions, which is anticipated to further strain the court system, the NRLA is urgently calling for reforms to expedite the processing of legitimate possession cases. The association emphasizes the necessity of increasing staff numbers within the courts and demands a clear outline of the proposed digitized system designed to handle such cases more efficiently.
Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the NRLA, underscores the importance of swift and fair handling of possession cases as section 21 repossessions come to an end. He criticizes the lack of action taken despite years of warnings about the need for improvements to the justice system. Beadle urges the government to instil confidence in the courts’ ability to manage legitimate possession cases promptly.