Repossession times rise for landlords

It now takes landlords 22.6 weeks from making a claim to the courts for a property to be repossessed to it happening.

Repossession times rise for landlords

The time it takes landlords from making a claim to the courts for a property to be repossessed to it happening has risen from 22.5 weeks in Q2 to 22.6 weeks in Q3, The Ministry of Justice’s Mortgage and Landlord Possession Statisticshave revealed.

This is the third quarterly increase in a row.

David Smith, policy director for the Residential Landlords Association, said: “The courts are failing both landlords and tenants.

“A systematic programme of court closures, coupled with cuts to the court budgets have made it harder for anyone in the private rented sector to get justice in a timely way where something goes wrong.

“With all parties wanting to develop longer tenancies in the rental market, this will only work if landlords can swiftly and easily repossess properties through the court in legitimate circumstances.

“A failure to achieve this will make such tenancies a pipe dream.

“We are calling on all parties in the election to pledge to establish a dedicated housing court that can bring rapid justice for landlords and tenants.”