Cross-industry group's letter challenges Minister's comments on court system
The NRLA has signed a joint industry letter expressing concern at comments made by the Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook MP, where he suggested that "alarmist" statements had been made about the readiness of the county court system to deal with possession cases following the imtroduction of the Renters' Rights Bill.
During the Committee stage of the Renters' Rights Bill on 5 November, the Minister claimed that these "alarmist" statements were motivated more by "fundamental opposition to the abolition of Section 21 and the current tenancy regime than they are by an impartial assessment of court performance".
Signed by the NRLA, the British Property Federation, Goodlord, Propertymark and Leaders Romans Group, the letter to the Minister challenges this view. The letter explains how the concerns felt by all these organisations regarding the capacity of the court system to deal with possession cases are well-founded and underpinned by robust evidence.
Specifically it also shows how other groups and organisations, such as the Law Society and the Labour-led Housing Select Committee, have questioned the ability of the court and tribunal system to deal with an increase in possession cases.
The letter cites recently-published Ministry of Justice figures for Q3 2024 which revealed that, on average, it takes approximately 31 weeks (measured by the mean) following a possession claim for a landlord to recover their property using the Section 8 process.
The letter also set out how each of the signatories is eager to work constructively with the Government as it proceeds with the implementation of rental reforms over the near future. However, to ensure this process proceeds as smoothly as possible it is crucial that the Government sets out, clearly and comprehensively, what its anticipated improvements to the court system will look like.
Further to a previous letter sent to the Minister in September, the signatories also call for the following:
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For early discussions with the private rented sector about the system which will replace Section 21 evictions to take place as soon as possible.
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For the Government to confirm whether, as suggested recently by an MHCLG official, the implementation period for the Bill will commence two months after the legislation receives Royal Assent.
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For the Government to announce when the impact assessment for the Bill will be published now that the Committee stage of the legislative process has ended.
If you’d like to read the letter in its entirety, you can access it in full here.
Alternatively, if you have any further questions relating to this release (or, if you from the media, would like additional commentary), contact us at [email protected].
