NRLA hits out at court eviction delays

The National Association of Residential Landlords (NRLA) is warning that the justice system is heading towards breaking point as government data show mounting delays in possession proceedings.

The Ministry of Justice figures show it took courts an average of more than eight months to process and enforce landlord claims last year.

That is the second longest turnaround recorded since 2005, surpassed only by pandemic-era disruption when hearings stalled under emergency restrictions.

However, the NRLA says this is an early warning sign because the Renters’ Rights Act in May will worsen the situation.

Court times must improve

The NRLA’s chief executive, Ben Beadle, said: “This latest data must serve as a stark and final warning to the government of the dangers of failing to bolster the courts system, before further pressure brings the justice system to its knees.

“It is entirely unacceptable that fewer possession cases are taking longer for the courts to process and enforce.

“If the backlog is increasing now, before the government’s reforms begin to bite in May, there is no hope that the system will be able to cope with what is to come.”

He added: “There is no more time to waste.

“Ministers must urgently explain when and how reforms will be made. This needs to include clear targets to see court waiting times falling.

“Without this, responsible landlords will be left powerless to deal with crippling arrears or community blighting anti-social behaviour.”

Landlord possession cases

Analysis of the data shows 91,093 landlord possession cases were issued in 2025, down from 98,766 the previous year.

Claims brought under Section 8, where landlords must evidence grounds such as rent arrears, dropped by almost 5% compared with 2024.

Section 21 filings dropped by nearly 13% over the same period.

Despite having fewer landlord court applications, they are taking longer to conclude.

Court readiness ‘essential’

The housing minister, Matthew Pennycook, previously described judicial readiness as ‘essential’ to the reforms’ success while the legislation was passing through Parliament.

Landlord Action’s Paul Shamplina told Property118: “Years of underinvestment in the courts are now translating into record waiting times for landlords.

“At the same time, the majority of landlords we act for are still relying on Section 21.

“Once that route is removed, every case will depend on a court process that is already under pressure.”

He added: “With the mandatory rent arrears threshold increasing from two months to three months and notice periods extending to four weeks under the new rules, landlords will face longer timelines before they can secure a possession order.

“Once an order is granted, enforcement delays can add further months.”