How Long Does It Take For a Landlord To Evict a Tenant?
Our Landlord and Tenant Solicitors in London can statistically tell you how long it will take for a landlord to evict a tenant based on the government‘s November 2024 published statistics.
Most commentators and Possession Solicitors say the statistics will likely worsen when the government ends Section 8 notices and tweaks the grounds for possession under a Section 21 notice. If you need specialist possession legal advice the Landlord and Tenant Lawyers at OTS Solicitors can answer your queries and help with notices, tenant disputes, possession proceedings and eviction.
Online and London-based Landlord and Tenant Solicitors
For help on landlord rights and obtaining possession call the experts at OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or complete our online enquiry form.
Mortgage and Landlord Possession Statistics
The time it takes landlords to get possession of rented property is increasing. How do we know? It isn’t just anecdotal talk from our Possession Solicitors. We are relying on government data in the Mortgage and landlord possession statistics: July to September 2024, published on 14 November 2024. If you want to read all the statistics you can find the full report here but the highlights are:
- Across England and Wales, there was a 2% increase in landlord possession claims and a 17% increase in warrants compared to the July to September 2023 quarter data
- The statistics on increases in landlord possession claims are driven by increases in possession claims in London. The national 2% increase in statistics reflects the fall in claims in Wales and North West England
- The median average time from claim to landlord repossession has increased across England and Wales to 24.5 weeks. This is a 1.5-week increase from the 23-week median average for the same quarter in 2023
The London Possession Statistics
A close study of the mortgage and landlord possession statistics reveals the results are skewed by the figures for some London boroughs.
Although the report notes there was a rise in claim and court order volumes across most geographical regions the concentration was in London with:
- 8,818 London landlord possession claims
- 6,674 landlord orders at London courts
- 4545 London landlord warrants
The 17% increase in landlord warrants compared to the 2023 quarter three period was driven by an increase in landlord warrants in London. Over the same period, landlord warrants in the North East, North West, and Wales fell in number.
London made up 39% of all landlord warrants, with an increase of 61% for landlord warrants in London in quarter three of 2023 compared to quarter three of 2024.
London boroughs accounted for seven out of the ten local authorities with the highest rate of private landlord claims. The top boroughs were:
- Newham with the highest rate for private landlord claims of 991 per 100,000 households owned by a private landlord
- Barking and Dagenham with 933 landlord claims per 100,000 households owned by a private landlord
- Redbridge with 713 claims per 100,000 households owned by a private landlord
Average Time for Landlord Orders and Warrants
The median time taken across England and Wales to complete landlord actions for orders and warrants has increased in quarter three of 2024 compared to the same quarter in 2023.
- Claims to order median timeliness has increased to 8 weeks, up from 7.3 weeks in the same period in 2023
- Claims to warrant median timeliness increased to 14 weeks, up from 13.3 weeks in the same period in 2023
The Reasons it is Taking Longer to Evict Tenants
Our Landlord and Tenant Solicitors have not conducted analytical research but based in the City of London we represent many landlords keen to secure possession of their rental property through serving Section 8 or Section 21 notices.
Our Possession Solicitors attribute the increased delays to:
- The fear factor – London landlords are anxious about the legislative changes with the end of Section 8 notices and an increase in tenant rights. As specialist Landlord and Tenant Solicitors, we hear the phrase ‘getting out now’ a lot. We suspect the increased trend in issuing notices and possession claims will continue after the new legislation is brought into force
- Court delays – the courts are under enormous pressure and never really got over the Covid delays
- The risk factor – with an increase in tenant rights and the rise in tenant disputes and repair costs landlords are questioning if the rewards justify the risks of being a landlord. Some have concluded there is easier profit to be made elsewhere and this is reflected in the rise in possession claims
Reducing the Time to Obtain Possession
As London Possession Solicitors we are acutely aware that the latest London borough statistics don’t make good reading if you are a landlord contemplating evicting your tenant with either a Section 8 or Section 21 notice. We work under the adage that time is money for landlords as in most cases securing possession is urgent as every week of delay has a financial impact on the landlord.
In our blog Possession Proceedings for Landlords: Legally Reclaim Your Property Quickly in 2024 we provide some tips on securing possession as quickly as possible.
Nollienne Alparaque heads the landlord and tenant team at OTS Solicitors and was recently featured in a Financial Times article.
Here is what one of OTS Solicitors' clients said about her landlord and tenant legal skills ‘’Nollienne Alparaque gave me some short, sharp advice on a difficult property matter which was pragmatic and commercial and really helpful. She was a sympathetic ear too. I was impressed’’.
Online and London-based Landlord and Tenant Solicitors
For property possession advice call the experts at OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or complete our online enquiry form.
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