Justice Minister Admits Courts Not Ready for Renters Reform

With the Renters (Reform) Bill inching closer to becoming law, serious concerns are being raised about whether the courts will be able to cope with the increased demand.

Abolishing Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions means landlords will need to rely on Section 8 to regain possession of their properties — a process that involves the courts unless tenants leave voluntarily. The Bill also proposes the end of fixed-term tenancies and mandates that all rent increases be served via Section 13 notices. Together, these changes are expected to significantly increase pressure on already overstretched courts and tribunals.

Speaking to the Justice Select Committee, Courts Minister Sarah Sackman acknowledged the challenge:

“We are not where we want to be in terms of timeliness and the digitalisation of the court process. The Renters’ Rights Bill is going to be a big and important piece of legislation with consequent litigation… We are seeking to effect this end-to-end digitisation.”

She added:

“The extension of renters’ rights is only as meaningful as the extent to which those rights are enforceable in the real world.”

Industry voices including the NRLA and Law Society have repeatedly questioned whether the justice system will be ready for the expected surge in possession claims.

📌 What this means for landlords and agents:

• Expect longer possession timelines if tenants do not leave voluntarily.

• Be prepared for greater reliance on legal processes and potential delays.

• Monitor further announcements on court digitisation and tribunal readiness.

As the sector braces for one of the biggest legislative shifts in years, iHowz, and other organisations, have been lobbying the Government for changes necessary to make the new Act workable.  These include:

• retain Fixed Term tenancies, especially for students
•  the ability to take rent in advance before the tenancy agreement is signed
• improvement in dealing with Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)
• clarification on the Decent Homes Standard
• as discussed above, the inability of the court and tribunal system to cope.