London landlords are being hit hardest by court delays, research suggests.

Analysis by property law specialists Legal for Lettings found that so far in 2025 the average possession case with continual rent arrears cost London-based landlords £22,968 in unpaid rent. 

This is driven by the capital having the highest average rents in the country (£2,197) along with the longest court delays. In contrast, the UK-wide average loss sits at £8,700, illustrating the additional risk of renting in London.

The data also highlights a significant inconsistency in court delays across the country, making it unpredictable and difficult for landlords and lettings professionals to plan confidently.

The Central London, Willesden, Edmonton, Clerkenwell & Shoreditch County courts saw the longest average delay in the country at 11 months, while others such as Teesside, Leeds, Brighton and Sheffield followed with average court delays of eight months.

Across the UK, the average wait for a possession case to be concluded now stands at five months.

Will Eastman, director of Legal for Lettings, called out the importance of court reform, with the abolition of Section 21 evictions now under five months away: “These delays are already placing huge pressure on landlords, particularly in the regions where courts are most backlogged.

“Every extra month a case spends in the system is another month of rent that may never be recovered. Without meaningful court reform, the Renters’ Rights Act risks driving these numbers even higher.

“We are already seeing more landlords relying on Section 21 while it is still available, which is likely to translate into further increases in possession claims and evictions, with knock-on financial and emotional impacts across the sector.”