More landlords want to evict but broken court system getting in way

Summary: The Ministry of Justice has revealed that while more landlords are seeking to evict tenants, the number of actual evictions has fallen due to significant delays in the court system. The average time to complete an eviction has increased to over 27 weeks, highlighting challenges landlords face in regaining possession of their properties.

Eviction numbers fall despite rising landlord action

Recent data from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) shows a surprising decline in the number of tenants evicted by private landlords. Between July and September 2025, 23,327 tenants in both the private and social rented sectors faced eviction, down from 25,402 during the same period in 2024. This reduction comes even as more landlords are reportedly seeking to evict tenants.

However, the MoJ figures reveal a significant increase in the time taken to complete evictions, rising from an average of 24.4 weeks to 27.4 weeks over the past year. This delay is largely attributed to the slow and congested court system, which is struggling to process the growing number of eviction cases.

Understanding the eviction process and court delays

Landlords will be familiar with the four key stages of an eviction: the initial claim, obtaining a court order, repossession, and finally, if necessary, enforcement by bailiffs. The MoJ data suggests that while more landlords are initiating eviction claims, fewer cases are progressing through all these stages to result in actual repossession.

Specifically, there has been a 6% decrease in evictions using Section 8 notices, which are based on tenant behaviour such as rent arrears or breaches of tenancy terms. Additionally, there has been a 15% reduction in evictions using Section 21 notices, which are soon to be abolished under the new Renters’ Rights Act. Section 21 currently allows landlords to regain possession without providing a reason, but this accelerated claim process will no longer be available.

Implications of the Renters’ Rights Act

The Government acknowledges that eviction statistics are likely to change significantly once the Renters’ Rights Act is fully implemented. The Act, which received Royal Assent on 27 October 2025, will abolish Section 21 “no-fault” evictions, requiring landlords to rely solely on evidence-based grounds under Section 8 to regain possession.

This change is expected to increase the number of contested eviction cases, placing additional pressure on the already burdened court system. The MoJ has committed to closely monitoring eviction trends and adapting data presentation as the Act is rolled out.

What landlords need to know

For landlords, these developments mean that evicting tenants will become a more complex and time-consuming process. The longer timelines and stricter legal requirements will necessitate careful preparation and adherence to tenancy regulations.

Landlords should ensure they maintain thorough records of tenant behaviour, rent payments, and any breaches of tenancy agreements to support potential Section 8 eviction claims. Additionally, staying informed about changes brought by the Renters’ Rights Act will be crucial to navigating the evolving legal landscape effectively.

Further information

Landlords seeking detailed statistics can access the full Ministry of Justice report on mortgage and landlord possession statistics for July to September 2025 here.

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Ministry of Justice data reveals fewer tenant evictions despite more landlords seeking possession, as court delays extend eviction times to over 27 weeks. Learn how the Renters’ Rights Act will impact landlords.

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Eviction Delays Rise as More Landlords Seek Possession Amid Court System Challenges