Eviction process to get the Usain Bolt treatment?

Published: 10/03/2014

The government is making plans to speed up the eviction process for private landlords.

Tenant eviction can be a lengthy and costly time for a landlord. It is not uncommon for a possession claim to take between six and 12 months, during which time tenants are often not paying rent thus leaving the landlord financially exposed. It could even see their credit rating suffer as a consequence and impact on their ability to secure a mortgage should they ever wish to buy another property.

It is understood that that landlords and housing charities have been invited to participate in a government working group to discuss the options in speeding up the process and minimise the financial impact.

Rob Denman, Head of GW LET, is in full support of the proposals:

“We have always voiced our opinion that the current legislation surrounding tenant eviction is incredibly unfair on landlords. While it is important to protect tenants this should not at the expense of the landlord, especially if the tenant is in breach of the tenancy agreement.

“In order to evict a tenant who is failing to pay their rent, landlords already have to wait for the tenant to be in severe rent arrears – two months/eight weeks or more – so they are already ‘down’ before they can even start the ball rolling. If the tenant then ignores the Section 8 Notice and forces the landlord to go to the courts to obtain an order for possession, this can result in months of non-payment plus court fees on top.

“There is no way around this – if a landlord fails to follow the correct legal process, they could actually give the tenant an opportunity to claim compensation against them – even if the tenant is in severe rent arrears!

“GW LET can ensure this doesn’t happen. For less than a tenant’s average monthly rent, we can take up the reins on a landlord’s behalf. All our fees are fully inclusive and, where applicable, the court fee is also covered in the cost so no unexpected hidden costs appear halfway through the proceedings.”

Content correct at time of publication