New Ministry of Justice Tribunal hearings reveal a huge rise in cases relating to property.
Most of these are likely to involve private rental sector disputes, or those involving leasehold homes.
There were no fewer than 15,929 cases heard in the year to the end of June 2026.
This is 24% more than in the previous year.
In the second quarter of 2026 alone – so April, May and June this year – there were 4,613 cases heard.
This is a whopping 56% more than in the same quarter a year earlier.
Covering rent cases, leasehold enfranchisement claims, leasehold disputes, Housing Act 2004 cases and park homes, the figures provide an early indication of rising levels of conflict in the lead-up to, and immediate aftermath of, the Renters Rights Act reforms.
This data offers a barometer of how housing disputes are evolving as the sector adjusts to the new regulatory landscape.
In response, Lucian Cook – head of residential research at Savills – comments: “As the Renters Rights Act beds in, we’d expect to see the number of cases referred to Tribunal rise exponentially, particularly in respect of rent reviews.
“Both buy-to-let landlords and the government will have a keen eye on the capacity to process these cases.
“Landlords will be particularly concerned to see if this results in a delay in the ability to charge a reviewed market rent. Meanwhile, the government will be concerned with both the cost of administration and the need for any tweaks in the regulations.”
