Landlords will pay more to make possession claims from this week after the Government confirmed an increase in court fees. The changes form part of the annual inflation-linked adjustments applied across the justice system.
While landlords will see costs rise, the fee for tenants challenging rent increases through the tribunal will remain unchanged at £47.
Court Fees Rise Across the Property Sector
From this week, the fee for issuing a possession claim has increased from £404 to £415, while the cost of using county court bailiffs to enforce possession orders has risen from £148 to £152.
The Government says these increases reflect inflation and are part of its routine annual review of court and tribunal charges.
According to the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), the additional income generated by the higher fees will help fund planned improvements to the court system. These include the Government’s commitment to fully digitise court processes as part of the Renters’ Rights Act, with completion targeted for next spring.
The NRLA also noted that around 80 fees within the Residential Property Division of the First-tier Tribunal are increasing, affecting leasehold disputes and a range of other residential property cases.
Concerns Over Court Capacity
The announcement comes as property professionals continue to question whether the courts are ready for the changes introduced by the Renters’ Rights Act.
Many believe the abolition of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions will lead to significantly more possession cases being handled under Section 8, placing further pressure on an already overstretched legal system.
Propertymark has previously warned that landlords are already experiencing lengthy delays when seeking possession through the courts.
Megan Eighteen, President of ARLA Propertymark, said there are ongoing concerns that the justice system is not adequately prepared for the expected increase in possession and eviction cases.
She explained that moving more cases into the Section 8 process is likely to increase demand on courts that are already facing substantial backlogs. Current figures suggest landlords in many parts of England are waiting around 29 weeks between submitting a claim and attending a hearing, with delays in London reaching as long as 40 weeks.
What This Means for Landlords
The increase in court fees adds another cost for landlords managing possession cases, particularly as many are already dealing with extended waiting times.
With the Renters’ Rights Act expected to increase reliance on the courts, many in the property sector will be watching closely to see whether the promised investment and digital improvements are enough to prevent further delays.
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