April 16, 2015

Landlords warned not to cut corners in eviction proceedings

It is feared that controversial increases in court fees could tempt normally law-abiding landlords to cut corners when evicting tenants.

For the second year running, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed that it will be increasing the fees for landlords looking to remove tenants who have fallen into rent arrears.

A breakdown of the figures shows that the cost of filing a paper application will rise by £75 to £325. The cost of online applications will also climb to £325, from £250 under the old system.

The increases come hard on the heels of similar hikes 12 months ago and have been criticised for piling further pressure on the rental sector.

The legal profession fears that some landlords, worried by the increased fees, will try and evict tenants without following the proper procedures.

But landlords who do so could later face prosecution and potentially a criminal record and are strongly advised against trying to do circumnavigate the normal channels.

The confirmation of further increases comes as MoJ statistics show a record number of evictions from rented properties. In 2014, 42,000 homes were repossessed by landlords.

At Royds we have a wealth of experience in handling landlord and tenant disputes and can provide expert guidance on your options. For more information, please contact property litigation partner Chris Rodda ([email protected]).

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