Possession delays are pushing average landlord losses above £10,000 per case in seven court areas.
New research highlights the growing financial pressure being placed on landlords and letting agents, and shows areas experiencing the greatest impact.
In London, landlords now face an average loss of £27,436 per possession case driven by average wait times of 12 months.
The other six court areas where average losses exceed £10,000 per possession case are all in and around London and the South East: Croydon (£19,124), Romford (£17,046), Uxbridge (£14,968), Kingston upon Thames (£13,513), Chelmsford (£13,513) and Watford (£12,890).
The data shows that delays remain inconsistent across the country.
Teesside and Croydon each recorded average delays of eight months, while Chester, Northampton and Peterborough all averaged seven months.
This regional variation between courts means costs and timescales vary significantly by location, making it harder for landlords and letting professionals to plan with confidence.
Will Eastman, director at Legal for Lettings, says: “While there are some early signs of improvement in parts of the system, the overall picture remains deeply worrying for landlords.
“In many courts, it can still take the best part of a year to regain possession.
“These delays aren’t just an administrative inconvenience, they represent months of lost income and uncertainty, which the latest figures make very clear. “
Landlords are still facing long waits and mounting arrears before they can resolve even straightforward cases – and this is before the Renters Rights Act has come into full force.
The findings are published in the Quarterly CourtWatch report, which shares insights and stats from 1,200 possession-related applications each year.
The report is designed to give letting agents, landlords and industry stakeholders a clearer picture of how delays in the legal system are translating into real‑world financial impacts.
