Bailiff waiting times and rent arrears piling-up?
Dear all, hope all of you are keeping well and many thanks for your time with this post. The purpose of my question is to get any feedback or opinions from Property118 readers, as I am lost at the moment and struggling financially.
I got a warrant for possession from Staines County Court dated 23.09.2025. When I contacted the court, they said due to the court backlog, waiting times for bailiffs are about 12 weeks!
Although my original application led to this warrant under Section 21 notice, the tenants are in rent arrears since Feb 2025 (so far £9200).
Big struggle financially. I thought S21 could be quicker and decided to take the financial hit on loss of rent, but this whole thing is taking forever.
So far, it has been nearly 6 months since the tenant should have been moved out. I do not know if this is worth still spending money to apply for, like some others suggest, to transfer to High Court?
The timeline as below:
Jan 2025 – Sec 21 notice served for tenants to leave by the end of Apr 2025 (they did not leave)
6th May 2025 – Applied for possession order Form 5NB ( Tenant put-up defenc, not really any base to defend S21 and the Court wanted to have a hearing)
5th Aug 2025 – Court hearing – awarded possession with 6 weeks given to Tenant (tenant did not move out after 6 weeks)
17th Sept 2025 – applied for Warrant for possession – Form N325
23rd Sept 2025 – Received Warrant of possession
*Waiting for Bailiff to contact me to inform the date of eviction*
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Basheer
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Member Since May 2021 - Comments: 392
10:08 AM, 2nd October 2025, About 7 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Ryan Stevens at 01/10/2025 – 17:36
Of course. All evictions will need a ground to be stated ie selling, moving in, asb, arrears etc . Due diligence will quickly sort out the riff raff.
Member Since January 2024 - Comments: 351
10:10 AM, 2nd October 2025, About 7 months ago
Reply to the comment left by PH at 02/10/2025 – 10:08
But where will that information be on a public register?
Member Since January 2025 - Comments: 20
10:23 AM, 2nd October 2025, About 7 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Adamufc1 at 02/10/2025 – 09:56
Thank you
Member Since May 2021 - Comments: 392
12:18 PM, 2nd October 2025, About 7 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Ryan Stevens at 02/10/2025 – 10:10
Not sure about a public register but speaking to the previous landlord and examining references will bring everything to light. It will not be difficult to get all the information you need to discover someone’s history and as long as you set a very high bar you’ll find the right tenant.
Member Since April 2017 - Comments: 19
6:18 PM, 5th October 2025, About 7 months ago
I went to court and received a pocessession order with the tenant given two weeks to leave.
Three weeks later the court is so far behind they have not sent out the order, therefore the tenant will stay in the house. I am unable to proceed with the next stage baliffs.
I have obtained a CCJ and waiting for the debt collectors.
Just all takes so much time.
Member Since January 2024 - Comments: 351
8:04 PM, 5th October 2025, About 7 months ago
Reply to the comment left by PH at 02/10/2025 – 12:18
So will the RRB make any difference once enacted?
Wouldn’t it be the same as what happens now eg landlord or agent carries out credit checks, previous landlord check, etc?
Member Since May 2021 - Comments: 392
2:09 PM, 6th October 2025, About 7 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Ryan Stevens at 05/10/2025 – 20:04
I would also be speaking with the previous landlord and even the one before. Check all references thoroughly. Ask questions, eg, why were you evicted ?, why did you leave your last place, ? Do proper due diligence. The information certainly won’t come to you unless the prospective tenant has nothing to hide and if there are any holes in their answers it’s a straight refusal.
Member Since January 2025 - Comments: 20
10:18 AM, 13th October 2025, About 7 months ago
Reply to the comment left by at 05/10/2025 – 18:18
Is that your possession order based on Section 21? and then you separately claimed rent arrears (MCOL)?
Cannot believe there is a delay to just post out the possession order in your case!
Just to clarify, How do you know you got possession order and the date the tenant suppose to leave? was it during the hearing.
If you are sure about this then i think you do not have to wait for the post and you can simply submit form N325 to get the warrant of possession.
I have got the warrant of possession on 23.09 and until now waiting to hear from Bailiff with a proposed date of eviction. Big hole in pocket as no rent since Feb 25
Member Since March 2023 - Comments: 1506
7:22 PM, 13th October 2025, About 6 months ago
You may be able to get it transferred to the high court so you can use their baliffs to evict (likely to be private bailifs and more charges though)
Member Since January 2025 - Comments: 20
8:56 AM, 14th October 2025, About 6 months ago
Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 13/10/2025 – 19:22
Thank you,
Yes that is my mistake, should have done it much earlier and now i am in a dilemma as to whether apply to transfer to high court. as it has been 3 weeks from the date of Warrant and applying to transfer at this stage may end up having the same finishing time frame.