New figures show that in the 12 months since Labour came into Government, Section 21 evictions by bailiffs in England have risen by 8%.

Labour has pledged to end S21 under its Renters’ Rights Bill, which is going through Parliament.

According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Justice there were 11,402 repossessions by county court bailiffs following a S21 notice in the period July 2023 to June 2024 – an increase of 8% on the previous 12 months.

David Smith, property litigation partner at London law firm Spector Constant & Williams, says: “The latest Q2 2025 possession statistics make unhappy reading for both landlords and tenants. While total possession claims have actually fallen for the third consecutive quarter, the median time for landlords to regain possession has risen yet again. It is taking almost three extra weeks in most cases, with no sign of real progress in tackling the court delays that continue to plague the system.

“No-fault evictions (Section 21) remain a flashpoint, with bailiff-led repossessions up 8% in Labour’s first year, despite the Renters’ Rights Bill being in its final stages. 

“This is because although the number of possession claims have fallen, a higher number are leading to possession orders as landlords in London continue to evict at a high rate, presumably to exit the market. 

“The government’s view is that most accelerated possession claims will disappear once Section 21 goes, but in my view, we will simply see a sharp increase in other types of possession claims, which will in turn lengthen delays further.

“With private rental sector supply flat, there is an urgent need to restore landlord confidence. Court bottlenecks, longer timelines, and an uncertain regulatory horizon will not achieve that. Without that confidence, tenants will ultimately feel the impact through reduced availability and higher rents.”