Property experts and MPs slam Ministers over failing courts system

Property leaders joined MPs in calling out the Government for failing to say when the slow courts system for evictions will be speeded up.

Ministers decided to postpone abolition of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions until reforms to the court system made processes quicker.

The measure was taken out of the Renters (Reform) Bill at the last minute before its second reading in Parliament.

Now, Propertymark has thrown its weight behind the housing select committee of MPs in denying the sector agreed to an indefinite delay to court improvements.

‘Deflect blame’

In a letter to housing secretary Michael Gove, committee chairman Clive Betts said ministers were guilty of trying to ‘deflect blame’ for the courts delays.

Betts says the Government has had four years to ensure the courts were ready to deal with an influx of cases once Section 21 was gone.

Courts

Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark (main picture), told MPs the Government needs to ‘focus on bailiff capacity’ and ‘to speed up the possession process’. He said there was an issue with bailiffs being able to get hold of personal protection equipment.

I can’t support Section 21 abolition with the court system in such a state.”

Ben Beadle, CEO at the NRLA, who is also a magistrate, told the MPs that courts were “worsening”, and added: “I can’t support Section 21 abolition with the court system in such a state.”

The Renters (Reform) Bill had its second reading last month. Following the committee stage in the House of Commons, the bill will then move on to the report stage before its third reading. It will then pass on to the House of Lords.