Courts not ready for Renters’ Rights Act claim Peers

The government has been accused of failing to ensure the court system is ready to deal with the Renters’ Rights Act.

In oral questions in the House of Lords, several Peers slammed the government for failing to prepare the courts and argued that the Renters’ Rights Act should be delayed until the system was ready to handle an increase in cases.

However, the government claimed that delaying implementation would not be in the best interests of tenants.

Failed to ensure courts are ready

Lord Jamieson from the Conservatives asked the government: “The Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook said court readiness is essential to the successful operation of the new system and went on to say the court and tribunal system was ready.

“Yet, the time for a landlord to regain possession through the courts has increased dramatically across the country since 2024, in particular in London increasing from seven and a half months to 15 months and that is before bailiffs’ delays.

“Given the government has failed to ensure the courts are ready for the Renters’ Rights Act, will it delay implementation until they are?”

However, the government claimed that delaying implementation would hurt tenants.

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing said: “It certainly would not help tenants to delay implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act.

“We are working very closely with the Ministry of Justice, including digitisation of the court system and ensuring there are more staff prepared for the changes.

“We’re working closely with the Judiciary to ensure the First-Tier Tribunal has the capacity to deal with applications.”

Courts won’t be ready in six weeks

Lord Young of Cookham raised concerns that, with the abolition of Section 21 taking place on 1 May, the courts would not be ready in time.

He said: “The Master of the Rolls has warned that ending Section 21 will undoubtedly create more contested possession cases than hitherto.

“According to the Ministry of Justice, the average delay last year was eight months. Ministers have repeatedly said that court readiness is a prerequisite for the success of the system. The courts aren’t ready, and they won’t be ready in six weeks’ time when the abolition of Section 21 comes into effect. What is the Minister going to do?”

Baroness Taylor repeated that the government was working with the Ministry of Justice to ensure the court system is ready.

She said: “These are very important reforms for tenants and landlords. Landlords don’t want to see the actions of bad landlords supported, and tenants want to make sure they are secure in their tenancies. Existing possession processes will be updated to reflect reforms in the Act, and we will ensure sufficient capacity is in place for the courts to handle new cases.

“There is an increase in capacity, including an additional 115 court staff in anticipation of hearings under the Section 8 claims process, and staff managing possession claims are receiving additional training supported by new materials and process guidance.

“Working practices have been reviewed and best practice shared in readiness for 1 May.”