Landlords face losses of up to £26,000 as court delays stretch to almost five months

New analysis from Legal for Lettings, the law firm representing HomeLet and Let Alliance, shows landlords are now losing an average of £6,411 in rent per possession case, with losses reaching as high as £26,484 in the worst‑affected areas.

The latest Quarterly CourtWatch report reveals that, while the median loss per case remains over £5,000 (£5,325), outcomes vary dramatically by location. Average delays across the 63 courts analysed now sit at 4.85 months, but London (Various) has climbed to 12 months, with Teesside at 8 months and a further group of courts in the 6-8 month range.

London continues to account for the highest losses, with London (Various) topping the table, followed by Croydon, Romford and Uxbridge. Other high‑impact courts include Watford, Chelmsford, Bromley, Guildford, Kingston upon Thames and Peterborough, where a combination of higher rents and longer timelines is driving up the cost of each possession.

At the other end of the scale, a small group of courts – including Bath, Cardiff, Preston, Lancaster and Telford – are completing cases much more quickly, underlining how location can significantly alter both timescales and financial outcomes for landlords and letting agents.

Will Eastman, Director at Legal for Lettings, said:

“Since our last report, we’ve seen the extremes get worse. London losses are higher and delays longer, while typical landlord losses are still sitting above £5,000. Long court waits are no longer just a London problem either; more regions are now in the six‑months‑plus bracket, so where your property is makes an even bigger difference to the outcome.”

The findings are published in the latest Quarterly CourtWatch report, which shares insights and statistics from around 1,200 possession‑related applications each year. The report is designed to give letting agents, landlords and industry stakeholders a clearer picture of how regional differences in the legal system are translating into real‑world financial impacts.

Revealed: the seven areas where court delays are costing landlords over £10,000 per possession case

New analysis from Legal for Lettings, the law firm representing HomeLet and Let Alliance, shows possession delays are pushing average landlord losses above £10,000 per case in seven court areas.

The data not only highlights the growing financial pressure being placed on landlords and letting agents but also shows the areas that are experiencing the greatest impact.

In London, landlords now face an average loss of £27,436 per possession case driven by average wait times of 12 months.

The other six court areas where average losses exceed £10,000 per possession case are all in and around London and the South East: Croydon (£19,124), Romford (£17,046), Uxbridge (£14,968), Kingston upon Thames (£13,513), Chelmsford (£13,513) and Watford (£12,890).

The data shows that delays remain inconsistent across the country. Teesside and Croydon each recorded average delays of eight months, while Chester, Northampton and Peterborough all averaged seven months.

This regional variation between courts means costs and timescales vary significantly by location, making it harder for landlords and letting professionals to plan with confidence.

Will Eastman, Director at Legal for Lettings, said:

While there are some early signs of improvement in parts of the system, the overall picture remains deeply worrying for landlords.

In many courts, it can still take the best part of a year to regain possession. These delays aren’t just an administrative inconvenience, they represent months of lost income and uncertainty, which the latest figures make very clear.

Landlords are still facing long waits and mounting arrears before they can resolve even straightforward cases and this is before the Renters’ Rights Act has come into full force. It will be crucial to see how these pressures evolve in the run-up to, and beyond, 1 May, and what further strain this places on the court system.

The findings are published in the Quarterly CourtWatch report, which shares insights and stats from 1,200 possession-related applications each year. The report is designed to give letting agents, landlords and industry stakeholders a clearer picture of how delays in the legal system are translating into real‑world financial impacts.