Recent research indicates that the UK courts are grappling with prolonged processing times, exceeding half a year, for possession claims, according to data released by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ).
The study exposes an alarming average duration of almost 29 weeks from the initiation of a legitimate possession claim by a private landlord to the actual repossession of the property. Additionally, it takes over 11 weeks on average for private landlords to progress from making a repossession claim to obtaining a court order.
Government’s Response and Advocacy Groups’ Perspectives
In response to the concerning delays, the government has declared its intention to suspend Section 21 until the court system undergoes necessary improvements. Section 21, which allows for no-fault evictions, has been a focal point of the debate.
However, housing charity Shelter contends that there is “no excuse” for delaying Section 21 and emphasizes that no-fault evictions play a pivotal role in the escalating homelessness crisis.
The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) pushes back against the extended court processing times, particularly in cases where tenants might be engaging in anti-social behaviour or failing to pay rent during this period. The NRLA advocates for swift measures to address the court backlog and proposes the implementation of a digitized system to streamline case handling.
Call for Urgent Action
Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the NRLA, expressed concern about the lack of progress in addressing the longstanding issues within the justice system. He stated, “Responsible landlords and tenants need to be confident that the courts will handle possession cases swiftly and fairly when section 21 goes. At present, that is not happening.”
Beadle urged the government to take decisive action to instil confidence in the courts’ ability to efficiently handle legitimate possession cases, emphasizing the importance of building trust in the justice system.