Landlords could face possession and enforcement pressures
4 weeks ago | 1 comments
Government rules out Nightingale-style courts for possession cases
12:01 AM, 29th July 2026, 3 weeks ago
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The government has ruled out Nightingale-style courts to tackle the court backlog, despite reforms causing concern.
In a written parliamentary answer, Justice Minister Sarah Sackman denied there was a national backlog for possession cases
As previously reported by Property118, Propertymark has called for the creation of specialist housing courts.
No national backlog for possession cases
Justice Minister Sarah Sackman said: “The Ministry of Justice is working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and HM Courts and Tribunals Service to ensure that the courts and tribunals have the resources and capacity they need to handle the additional workload housing reforms will generate. This includes developing a new Digital Possession Service.
“No consideration has been given to the establishment of Nightingale-style courts. There is no national backlog for possession cases at this time. Possession cases are dealt with in the County Court. The Civil Procedure Rules state that standard possession claims should have their first hearing between four and eight weeks from issue of the claim.
“The most recent quarterly data (January to March 2026) from Mortgage and Landlord Possession Statistics, Mortgage and landlord possession statistics, show that the national median timeliness from possession claim to order is eight weeks.
“In relation to the First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), which deals with most residential property matters outside of possession, the government has recruited additional administrative staff, established a centralised operational hub and updated operational processes to improve efficiency. We have also ensured the availability of suitable estates capacity for hearings and enhanced technology systems.”
Court backlog shows no signs of slowing down
However, as previously reported by Property118, the court backlog shows no sign of slowing down.
The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) pointed out that landlords are having to wait weeks for court hearings to regain possession of their properties.
In a letter to the Justice Select Committee, the NRLA warned that the government has not provided clarity on how the courts will be prepared for the digital possession process.
Tags:
court backlog, housing reforms, Nightingale-style courts, possession cases, rental reforms, Tenant eviction
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Member Since December 2023 - Comments: 1651
9:45 AM, 29th July 2026, About 3 weeks ago
The courts may not have a backlog yet. When some politicians say that migration isn’t the problem, they all lose credibility.
Given that the RRA introduced new grounds under Section 8, requiring 4 months’ notice, it is likely that a spike in Ground 1A (sale of dwelling house) and Ground 1 (moving in) will not occur until 1st October onwards.
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3702 - Articles: 5
10:25 AM, 29th July 2026, About 3 weeks ago
NO backlog? So where are the figures now exactly to prove it?
Member Since May 2014 - Comments: 98
10:34 AM, 29th July 2026, About 3 weeks ago
“The national median timeliness from possession claim to order is eight weeks.” That means half the cases are below 8 weeks, half are above. It gives no indication of what the profile is above 8 weeks…could be years.
Far more informative to use an average rather than a median. But I’m sure that would be far higher than 8 weeks.
Lies, damn lies and statistics…
Member Since June 2019 - Comments: 926
11:09 AM, 29th July 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Neil P at 29/07/2026 – 10:34
Even at 8 weeks that’s two months to get the possession order after the four month wait – but that’s not the end point as you still need bailiffs to carry out the order, another long wait that makes the whole process nearer to eight months (and that’s the quicker cases)
Member Since April 2018 - Comments: 555
12:59 PM, 29th July 2026, About 3 weeks ago
What government.Who voted or will vote for Burnham, except perhaps the benefit professionals, parents to get £4500 per annum for each brat they send on an apprentice scheme, so yet another scam like PPE and Covid business loans.
Just face it Labour will do nothing to assist private landlords and I haven’t heard the Conservatives mention they will either.
Member Since May 2018 - Comments: 46
1:22 PM, 29th July 2026, About 3 weeks ago
“Nightingale-style courts. There is no national backlog for possession cases at this time. Possession cases are dealt with in the County Court. The Civil Procedure Rules state that standard possession claims should have their first hearing between four and eight weeks from issue of the claim.
“The most recent quarterly data (January to March 2026) from Mortgage and Landlord Possession Statistics, Mortgage and landlord possession statistics, show that the national median timeliness from possession claim to order is eight weeks.”
So half of the cases have missed the top end of the target, and that equates to no backlog? 🤔 Or am I misreading it?
Member Since May 2018 - Comments: 2400
6:30 PM, 29th July 2026, About 3 weeks ago
According to this group of barristers
https://www.barristerconnect.com/blog/how-long-does-a-possession-order-take-in-england-and-wales
The realistic total timeline from deciding to serve notice to physical eviction by court bailiffs is typically:
– Minimum (everything goes smoothly): 3 to 5 months
– More typical (some delays, tenant does not leave voluntarily): 5 to 8 months
– Contested or complex cases: 8 to 12 months or longer
The statistics quoted in the article are for the period from January to March, i.e. before the introduction of the Labour Renters Rights Act. Labour refused to publish the results of their justice impact test on the courts:
https://www.property118.com/government-refuses-to-reveal-renters-rights-bill-court-impact-assessment/
So the bottom line is, screen tenants more thoroughly than before and don’t take on the problem tenants.
Member Since November 2020 - Comments: 55
9:42 AM, 30th July 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Laughable, I see they give no timelines for FTT where I have an outstanding rent assessment application since April and same tenants applied April 25 no tribunal decision till Sept 25 , thankfully they backdated it.
Member Since June 2017 - Comments: 117
4:45 PM, 10th August 2026, About 1 week ago
I read one clever line in the article, a quote.
“There is no national backlog for possession cases at this time”
If there is no national measurement of backlogs, there is no national backlog. What the commentary doesn’t say is what the backlogs look like at county court level. Very clever use of words to come up with an answer that has a positive leaning without actually saying anything meaningful.
Member Since May 2018 - Comments: 2400
5:04 PM, 10th August 2026, About 1 week ago
Reply to the comment left by Landlord Phil at 10/08/2026 – 16:45
Maybe it’s clever, maybe it isn’t. Maybe it’s just patronising. What I notice these days is that most politicians from all parties have all been on the same media-training course. And they always say “…I am clear” “…he is clear…” “…we are clear..” And so, whenever I now hear a politician say something like “…I am clear” what I now think is “Really?….what are you trying to hide?”
As you say, we don’t know what the backlogs look like at county court level. Labour refused to publish the results of the justice impact test of the Labour Renters Rights Act on the courts:
https://www.property118.com/government-refuses-to-reveal-renters-rights-bill-court-impact-assessment/
When they refused to publish it I thought “…what are you trying to hide?”