"The Government’s view is that most accelerated possession claims will disappear once Section 21 goes, but in my view, we will simply see a sharp increase in other types of possession claims, which will, in turn, lengthen delays further"
- David Smith - Spector Constant & Williams
New data reveals that no-fault evictions carried out by bailiffs in England have increased by 8% in the 12 months since Labour formed the government.
Labour has pledged to end no-fault evictions through its Renters’ Rights Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament.
According to the Ministry of Justice, there were 11,402 repossessions by county court bailiffs following a section 21 notice, also known as a no-fault eviction, between July 2023 and June 2024. This represents an 8% rise compared with the previous 12-month period.
"The latest Q2 2025 possession statistics make unhappy reading for both landlords and tenants. While total possession claims have actually fallen for the third consecutive quarter, the median time for landlords to regain possession has risen yet again," explained David Smith, property litigation partner at London law firm Spector Constant & Williams. "It is taking almost three extra weeks in most cases, with no sign of real progress in tackling the court delays that continue to plague the system.
"No-fault evictions (Section 21) remain a flashpoint, with bailiff-led repossessions up 8% in Labour’s first year, despite the Renters’ Rights Bill being in its final stages."
"This is because although the number of possession claims has fallen, a higher number are leading to possession orders as landlords in London continue to evict at a high rate, presumably to exit the market. The Government’s view is that most accelerated possession claims will disappear once Section 21 goes, but in my view, we will simply see a sharp increase in other types of possession claims, which will, in turn, lengthen delays further."
"With the private rental sector supply flat, there is an urgent need to restore landlord confidence. Court bottlenecks, longer timelines, and an uncertain regulatory horizon will not achieve that. Without that confidence, tenants will ultimately feel the impact through reduced availability and higher rents."
