The NRLA has warned that landlord possession wait times have climbed to almost eight months, despite a significant drop in the number of court claims being filed across England and Wales.

The latest Ministry of Justice statistics reveal that private sector landlords now face an average wait of 33.8 weeks in quarter two of this year, up from 32.5 weeks in the first quarter. This represents the longest delay since early 2022, when the figure reached 37.8 weeks.

Over the same period, overall possession claims from both private and social sector landlords have fallen by 9%.

Disaster

NRLA chief executive Ben Beadle (pictured) says: “This is a disaster waiting to happen. If landlords are already facing an almost eight-month wait to legally take possession of their homes at a time when the number of claims is falling, then what can we expect when the inevitable avalanche of claims drops post-Renters’ Rights Bill?”

The warning comes as the Government prepares to abolish Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions under the Renters’ Rights Bill, which is set to receive Royal Assent this autumn. Currently, many landlords with valid Section 8 grounds, such as rent arrears or anti-social behaviour, choose the faster no-fault route to regain possession.

Under the new legislation, all landlords will need to meet specific grounds to regain possession, which tenants can challenge in court. This fundamental change is expected to dramatically increase court demand as every case will require a hearing to decide, process and enforce possession.

Ministers have repeatedly claimed that the courts will be ‘ready’ to manage the impact of the Bill, yet all the evidence suggests they are not.”

Beadle adds: “Ministers have repeatedly claimed that the courts will be ‘ready’ to manage the impact of the Bill, yet all the evidence suggests they are not. This isn’t about an increase in landlords wanting to evict tenants; it’s about landlords with legitimate reasons to take back their rental homes being able to do so in a timely manner.”

He is calling on the Government to commit to a fully funded plan to ensure courts are properly resourced before the changes take effect.

And he says: “Without this, landlord confidence will continue to erode, undermining investment in supplying the rental homes that tenants so desperately need.”