The government has announced the recruitment of 1,000 new judges and tribunal members. This initiative aims to address the increased demand on courts following the implementation of the Renters' Rights Act.
Courts Minister Sarah Sackman KC confirmed in a letter to the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) that this recruitment, alongside court digitisation, will enable possession claims to be handled "swiftly and effectively". The new digital system will replace the current paper-based process, offering an online route for making and responding to possession claims.
Latest figures from the Ministry of Justice show that landlords issued 23,635 possession claims between April and June 2026, a 6% increase from the 22,352 claims in the same quarter of 2025. Accelerated possession claims specifically rose by 16% to 8,569.
Under the Renters' Rights Act, Section 21 has been abolished, requiring landlords to use one of 37 revised grounds for possession, which may lead to more cases going through the courts. NRLA chief executive Ben Beadle welcomed the government's move but stated that the "proof will be in the pudding" regarding the courts' capacity to cope.
Ms Sackman confirmed that the first stage of the digital changes is scheduled for rollout by the end of 2026, with the full digital rollout planned for 2027.