Private landlords are still waiting an average 32.5 weeks to regain possession through the courts, prompting fresh warnings that the justice system is not ready for the pressure that follows the end of Section 21.
NRLA says court reform gap is now the real test
The National Residential Landlords Association said new Ministry of Justice figures show the average time between a private landlord issuing a claim and getting possession has risen from 29.8 weeks a year earlier to 32.5 weeks in the first quarter of 2025.
That is the backdrop landlords now face after the Renters’ Rights Act switched the sector onto a possession system built around Section 8 grounds and court process. Ministers have repeatedly argued that the courts will be able to cope. The NRLA says the data points the other way.
The trade body also said ministers have leaned too heavily on the shorter claim-to-order measure when talking about court performance. While that part of the process may sit closer to eight weeks, it does not reflect the much longer wait to recover the property itself.
Possession delays matter more after Section 21 ends
For landlords, the practical issue is simple. A possession case tied to serious arrears or anti-social behaviour can now drag on for months, even before the cost of legal work, missed rent and repairs is added in. Landlord Knowledge previously reported on the Section 21 rush before the old route closed, and later covered the government’s publication of new possession and rent forms.
This follows Landlord Knowledge’s wider reporting on Renters’ Rights Act compliance and possession risk. The important shift now is that court speed is no longer a background issue for problem cases – it is central to how much risk landlords carry when a tenancy breaks down.
The NRLA is calling for clear standards on court readiness, proper funding and regular performance reporting. Landlords do not have to agree with every part of the trade body’s politics to see the problem. If possession timelines keep stretching after Section 21’s abolition, many smaller landlords will simply price that risk into rents, underwriting or exit decisions.
That is the awkward point in the current debate. Delays do not just hurt landlords. They can also prolong uncertainty for tenants and neighbours when disputes involve arrears, nuisance or damaged properties. A slow system rarely protects anyone well.
The NRLA’s statement, which cites the latest Ministry of Justice data, is available on the NRLA website.
What this means for landlords
- If you are self-managing: tighten arrears and evidence processes early, because weak records will hurt more in a court-led system.
- Build in delay: when assessing cash flow risk, assume possession can take many months rather than the headline eight-week figure.
- Watch for: any government update on digitised possession claims, funding or published court-readiness benchmarks.
- Insurance review: check whether legal expenses or rent guarantee cover still fits a post-Section 21 timeline.
- Bottom line: a possession system that takes 32.5 weeks is not a detail – it is part of the investment case.
Editor’s view
The argument over rental reform has moved on from whether Section 21 should go. The harder question is whether ministers have built a court system that can replace it – and the numbers so far say landlords are right to doubt that.
Author: Editorial Team – UK landlord & buy-to-let news, policy, and finance
Published: 11 May 2026
Sources: National Residential Landlords Association, Ministry of Justice
Related reading: Government publishes section 8 and rent forms for landlords
📘 Renters’ Rights Act: Complete Landlord Guide
Everything you need to know about the new rules – 1 May 2026
