In a damning revelation, letting agents and landlords are contending with a dire state of the evictions system, leaving many in a frustrating limbo, waiting over a year to oust problematic tenants. The alarming claims come from Paul Shamplina, the founder of Landlord Action, who asserts that obtaining a court date, let alone possession orders, has become an agonizingly protracted ordeal for numerous landlords, including a celebrity client represented by his firm.
Shamplina sheds light on the grim reality, emphasizing that once possession orders are granted, additional delays plague the process, ranging from acquiring the sealed court order essential for eviction to a severe shortage of available court bailiffs.
One such high-profile case involves celebrity health expert Dr. Renée Hoenderkamp, who initiated an eviction notice in January 2023 due to her tenant’s non-payment of rent and property damage. Astonishingly, thirteen months later, she is still awaiting a bailiff appointment—a situation Shamplina deems emblematic of the “broken” state of the evictions system.
Speaking on the crisis, Shamplina states, “It’s a system in crisis… The inefficiencies within the court system are causing undue hardship for landlords who simply wish to exercise their legal rights.”
Dr. Hoenderkamp expresses her frustration, detailing the aftermath of her tenant’s actions, “The property is trashed, and I can’t even get it back to start making the repairs.” She recounts the disheartening response received when seeking assistance, revealing, “When I contacted the helpline, I was told by Willesden County Court that they can’t chase for a bailiff appointment until it has been 17 weeks. It’s an absolute disgrace.”
Highlighting the protracted wait faced by landlords, Shamplina underscores that, despite using a Section 8 notice due to a tenant breaching the tenancy agreement, the delay persists. “And yet landlords are still being forced to wait months and months to get their properties back,” he adds.
Moreover, Shamplina warns that the impending abolition of Section 21, a no-fault eviction option for landlords, is poised to exacerbate these issues. He urges substantive reforms, proposing the option for landlords to employ High Court Enforcement Officers in cases of significant arrears exceeding six months, mitigating the backlog and ensuring a balanced, effective resolution mechanism for both landlords and tenants. The plea is clear: urgent and comprehensive reforms are needed to salvage a system on the brink of collapse.