The National Residential Landlords Association claims the government is failing to acknowledge the true state of the court system.

And in particular Labour is in denial about courts’ lack of readiness to handle possession cases following the end of Section 21 evictions.

The warning comes as new Ministry of Justice data shows the average time for landlords to regain possession of a property through the courts has increased yet again. 

In the first quarter of 2025, the average time between a landlord submitting a claim and regaining legitimate possession was over seven months (32.5 weeks – up from 29.8 weeks a year ago). 

This is despite ministers repeatedly claiming that the courts will be “ready” to manage the impact of the Renters Rights Bill.

With the abolition of Section 21, landlords will in future be reliant on the courts to hear, decide, process and enforce possession claims.

During the Renters Rights Bill Committee Stage in the House of Lords, housing minister Baroness Taylor, claimed that possession cases take an average of just eight weeks. However, this figure is misleading as it only covers part of the process – from making a claim to getting a possession order. 

It does not include the typically much longer wait for landlords to actually get their property back, which can take over half a year.

The NRLA claims failure to deliver meaningful court reform will further undermine landlords’ confidence in the system and could lead to reduced investment, making it even harder for tenants to find a home. 

An autumn 2024 survey by the NRLA of over 1,400 landlords found that 96% have little or no confidence that the courts will be able to cope once the Renters’ Rights Bill is passed.

The NRLA is calling on the government to set out a credible plan for court reform as a matter of urgency. This must include clear standards for “court readiness”, funding to ensure cases are processed without unacceptable delays, and a commitment to transparency through regular reporting on court performance.

Association chief executive Ben Beadle says: “Ministers are either unaware of the true state of the courts or are refusing to admit it. Their claims that the courts will be ‘ready’ for the impact of the Renters’ Rights Bill simply do not stack up.

“Seven months is an eternity for responsible landlords who may be dealing with serious rent arrears and for neighbours having to endure anti-social behaviour. 

“The government must stop burying its head in the sand and commit to a fully funded, detailed and deliverable plan to ensure the courts are fit for purpose. Without this, landlord confidence will continue to erode, undermining investment in supplying the rental homes that tenants desperately need.”