A call has been made for landlords to consider High Court enforcement as an efficient eviction option in area hit by county court delays.

Propertymark – the letting agents’ trade body – says eviction processes are becoming a postcode lottery due to the inconsistent and regionally varied response times within the County Court system. 

Now – operating with the High Court Enforcement Officers Association (HCEOA) – Propertymark says High Court enforcement could be more efficient.

Michael Jackson, vice chair of the HCEOA, states that although High Court enforcement isn’t a magic wand, it can help those facing the worst delays in evictions, which are unfairly costing landlords thousands of pounds.

Landlords who are only now beginning possession proceedings can request to ‘transfer up’ their cases to the High Court at the same time as applying for a Possession Order. 

A statement from Propertymark says: “This could save months in regions where County Court bailiff backlogs are most severe. For those who have already applied via the County Court, it’s still possible to request a transfer to High Court enforcement as a separate step.

“It’s important to stress that High Court enforcement is not a loophole or an attempt to undermine tenants’ rights. It is a legally valid process that only occurs when a court has already ruled that the tenant must vacate the property, and they have failed to do so. It does not sidestep protections proposed under legislation like the Renters Reform Bill.”

The HCEOA is also lobbying for a change in the law to make the whole process quicker and easier.  It’s launched a survey to gather data and evidence from landlords, agents, and solicitors to present to the UK government, highlighting the extent and impact of these delays.

You can see the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LandlordsPossessionsSurvey2025