Housing courts across England are facing significant pressure, with lawyers describing them as 'overloaded' due to a wave of last-minute no-fault evictions and a growing number of landlords selling their properties. This situation is reportedly pushing more renters into homelessness.
Official data indicates a 16% rise in Section 21 evictions between April and June this year, compared to the same period in 2025. This increase is attributed to landlords rushing to remove tenants. Property industry analysts estimate that 110,000 landlords are forecast to leave the market in 2026, adding to the 93,000 who left in 2025.
Mustafa Sidki, a litigation partner at Thackray Williams, noted a 'huge increase' in Section 21 evictions before the new Renters’ Rights Act. He also stated that landlords are now frequently serving Section 8 eviction notices, even when tenants are not at fault, because they are selling properties due to financial viability concerns. The courts are struggling with insufficient court and judicial time, with hearing waits now potentially extending up to a year, compared to two to three months previously.
Tenants are increasingly delaying evictions for as long as possible due to a lack of affordable alternative homes. Some local authorities reportedly advise tenants to resist eviction to access emergency housing support, which can lead to further frustration within the system.