Time taken to evict rises to nearly 28 weeks, new court data shows
The official figures show that although more landlords are evicting using Section 21 ahead of the Renters' Rights Bill, court bottlenecks remain.
Landlords and letting agents are waiting even longer to repossess properties, latest Government evictions data reveals.
Published by the Department of Justice, the figures covering April to June this year reveal that the median average time from claim to landlord repossession increased to 27.9 weeks, up from 25.4 weeks djuring the same period last year. It also shows that the number of evictions by landlors using bailiffs is up by 8%.
“It is taking almost three extra weeks in most cases, with no sign of real progress in tackling the court delays that continue to plague the system,” says leading property lawyer David Smith of Spector Constant & Williams.
The data also suggests strongly that more landlords are evicting tenants using the easier route of a Sectcion 21 notice ahead of the Renters’ Rights Bill becoming law, which will ban such ‘no fault’ evictions almost immediately, it is expected.
Flashpoint
Smith adds: “No-fault evictions (Section 21) remain a flashpoint, with bailiff-led repossessions up 8% in Labour’s first year, despite the Renters’ Rights Bill being in its final stages.
“This is because although the number of possession claims have fallen, a higher number are leading to possession orders as landlords in London continue to evict at a high rate, presumably to exit the market.
“The Government’s view is that most accelerated possession claims will disappear once Section 21 goes, but in my view, we will simply see a sharp increase in other types of possession claims, which will in turn lengthen delays further.
“With private rental sector supply flat, there is an urgent need to restore landlord confidence. Court bottlenecks, longer timelines, and an uncertain regulatory horizon will not achieve that. Without that confidence, tenants will ultimately feel the impact through reduced availability and higher rents.”
Waiting too long
Paul Shamplina, founder of Landlord Action, says: “These latest Ministry of Justice stats mirror exactly what we are seeing at Landlord Action.
“Yes, landlord possession claims may be down 9% to 22,364, and repossessions down just 4% to 6,709, but landlords are still waiting far too long to get their properties back.
“The median time from claim to repossession is now almost 28 weeks, six weeks longer than it was just two years ago.
“On the ground, we are seeing more cases escalated to the High Court at the bailiff stage just to make any progress. Yet tenants are filing meritless defences to drag things out, and judges are adjourning far too often, sometimes on very flimsy grounds.
The system is too slow, too inconsistent, and it is costing landlords thousands
“The system is too slow, too inconsistent, and it is costing landlords thousands. These figures clearly show that declining volumes do not equate to quicker outcomes.
“We urgently need judicial reforms to reduce delays and stop stretching landlords into untenable timelines. We need a process that works faster and fairer because right now, it is anything but…and that is before Section 21 goes and even more cases are pushed through the courts.”
Mortgage repossessions
Meanwhile, UK-wide statistics from banking trade body UK Finance for actual repossessions, show an overall fall.
Although 1,340 homeowner mortgaged properties were taken into possession in the second quarter of 2025, ten per cent higher than in the previous quarter, the numbers remain significantly less than the long-term average, the lenders’ trade body says
Mary-Lou Press, NAEA Propertymark President, adss: “This should provide some relief to the many people who have been struggling with the cost of living over the last few years, and shows that introducing more affordable mortgage products has helped ease the pressures”.
Mortgage repossessions jump by a third as cost of living crisis bites
I’m aware that the courts are immune from being sued for delays under the principle of judicial immunity. But the state does have a public law duty to administer justice efficiently, and that access has to a fair and timely under Article 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 (Right to a fair trial within a reasonable time). HMCTS is aware of massive delays, as to their political masters, so is there a case of subverting the rule of law by abolishing S21 and requiring landlords to use a different system, that is not fit for purpose. 28 weeks to gain possession is half a year, in what modern civilised society is this considered acceptable? Loss or rent, filing costs, solicitors and the cost of BTL mortgages, this is not some small claim. It could be argued that this is the key matter driving landlords out of the market. Without landlords, there will be fewer properties for rent, and with ever increasing demand for renting, there will be lots of disenfranchised renters (or do I mean voters) needing a home. And sadly, it’s the failures of successive governments.
I ask our legal readers for some commentary. Is there some judicial review, maladministration of justice or some other challenge that can be brought to hold the government to take account of their duty to provide a system that works for landlords and tenants? And I would be interested to discover what NRLA and other professional bodies are doing to hold the government to account.