Courts fail to follow rules in housing cases

According to civil procedure rules, courts are expected to ensure cases are dealt with "expeditiously and fairly".

Courts fail to follow rules in housing cases

Courts across the country are failing to follow their own rules when dealing with repossession cases according to the RLA.

According to civil procedure rules, courts are expected to ensure cases are dealt with "expeditiously and fairly" with the process taking around nine weeks.

However, government statistics show that cases are taking over 22 weeks.

The RLA argues that a new housing court is needed to speed up and 'improve justice for landlords and tenants', with a commitment that landlords have to wait no more than 10 weeks between submitting a case to property repossession.

David Smith (pictured), policy director for the RLA, said: “Whilst the government talks the talk on court reform it is failing to walk the walk.

"Words alone will not improve the court system for tenants or for landlords.

"What is needed is a firm plan for a fully funded housing court which reverses cuts that have made access to justice more difficult and take far too long.

"Tinkering with the existing system is simply not good enough.

“Without such fundamental changes the government’s plans to reform the way landlords can repossess properties are dead on arrival.”