In a scathing critique, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has taken the Ministry of Justice to task for permitting the accumulation of delays in possession cases. The NRLA is now strongly advocating for a reform of the court service to alleviate the growing burden on landlords seeking to regain possession of their rental properties.
In a strongly-worded open letter, the NRLA is urging Justice Ministers to promptly address the issue by expediting the processing time for cases. The association is alarmed by the sometimes excruciating delays, which can extend to six months or more before landlords can reclaim their properties.
Tenancy Reforms on the Line
The NRLA’s letter references a recent report from the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Select Committee, which warns that “It is not clear whether the Government fully appreciates the extent to which an unreformed courts system could undermine its tenancy reforms.”
With the Second Reading of the Renters (Reform) Bill looming, the NRLA is seeking concrete assurances from Ministers that measures will be announced to curtail court waiting times. Among the suggested remedies are the digitalization of the court process, plans to bolster the number of court staff handling possession cases, setting target processing times, and publishing the Ministry’s assessment of the Bill’s impact on the court system.
Ben Beadle, NRLA Chief Executive, minced no words, stating, “The court service is failing its users and has done so for some time. Court wait times are a major issue for landlords – particularly those who need to repossess property from anti-social tenants or those individuals who are in extreme rent arrears.”
Restoring Confidence in the Sector
He went on to emphasize, “Before the second reading of the Renters (Reform) Bill, the Government must set out clearly what court reform means and bring confidence to the sector.” Beadle also stressed the importance of maintaining the confidence landlords had enjoyed with Section 21, which provided property owners with the assurance that they could swiftly address problematic tenants. With its impending abolition, landlords are now calling for the same confidence that, with a legitimate reason, their repossession claims will be processed without undue delay.
The NRLA’s call for court service reform is echoing throughout the rental property industry as stakeholders await concrete action to tackle the mounting possession case delays.