South London Landlord Faces £15,000 Rent Arrears, 11-Month Eviction Delay
Rongmala, 57, an "accidental" landlord due to her disabilities, rented out her South London maisonette last year. Her tenant ceased paying rent, accumulating £15,000 in arrears. Despite securing a court order for possession, Rongmala has been informed that the court-appointed bailiffs required to remove the tenant could take up to 11 months to act, a delay she describes as "breaking" her spirit.
Her son, Marouf, expressed distress over his mother's "helplessness" navigating the overburdened court system. The financial strain has led to Rongmala's depression, forcing her family to cover essential property costs, including a recent £2,500 boiler repair, service charges, and the mortgage.
Renters' Rights Act Sparks Landlord Concerns
The impending Renters' Rights Act, slated for implementation on 1 May, is poised to be the most substantial overhaul of the private rented sector in a generation. It aims to enhance tenant security by banning "no-fault evictions" and imposing limits on rent increases.
However, landlords express apprehension that these reforms will exacerbate existing delays in removing problematic tenants. Ministry of Justice figures reveal that private landlords currently face a median wait of 26 weeks to repossess a property after initiating a claim, a significant increase from approximately 16 weeks a decade ago.
The National Residential Landlords' Association (NRLA) reports average rent losses exceeding £12,000 nationally, rising to over £19,000 in London properties where tenants fall into arrears. Chris Norris, NRLA policy director, noted that the current Section 21 "no-fault" eviction process is administrative, but the new legislation will necessitate court hearings if tenants contest evictions, potentially increasing court congestion.
While the government claims the reforms will "reduce pressure on the courts in the long-term" and plans to recruit up to 1,000 judges, landlords like Keith Taylor, who manages three properties, predict heightened difficulties. He cited instances of tenants causing up to £8,000 in property damage, warning that the new law, coupled with tax changes and increased regulation, may prompt more landlords to sell their portfolios.
Conversely, some landlords, such as Rick Gannon, who owns 70 properties, believe the new laws will foster fairness and "weed out bad landlords," seeing the changes as largely positive for the industry. The Act will also prohibit discrimination against tenants with children or those receiving benefits, although landlords will retain autonomy over tenant selection.
Both Rongmala and her son advocate for government assistance for smaller, "accidental" landlords, arguing that the reforms risk making their situation more challenging rather than providing support amidst their own struggles.
