Landlord possession claims in England and Wales surged by 6 percent between April and June 2026 compared with the same quarter in 2025, according to the latest official data from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
The rise was primarily driven by a sharp increase in accelerated possession claims during a major change in the private rented sector in England.
The MoJ revealed:
- Total landlord claims: Increased by 6 percent to 23,635, up from 22,352 in the same quarter of 2025.
- Accelerated claims: Jumped 16 percent to 8,569.
- Private landlord claims: Rose 5 percent to 7,617 under standard procedures.
- Repossessions by bailiffs: Decreased by 3 percent to 6,560.
Rush on accelerated evictions
The quarter covered the start of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 reforms in England, which came into force on 1 May 2026. The MoJ said it was not yet clear whether changes in claims could be attributed to the Act.
The 16 percent rise in accelerated possession claims coincided with the final months of the Section 21 transitional period. Landlords who had served a valid Section 21 notice before 1 May generally had to start court proceedings within the notice's usual time limit and no later than 31 July 2026.
Breakdown by sector
| Possession action |
Volume (Q2 2026) |
Volume (Q2 2025) |
Year-on-year change |
| Possession claims |
23,635 |
22,352 |
6% |
| Possession orders |
17,490 |
17,472 |
Stable (<1%) |
| Bailiff warrants |
9,715 |
10,349 |
-6% |
| Bailiff repossessions |
6,560 |
6,767 |
-3% |
Despite the growth in initial court claims, full repossessions carried out by county court bailiffs fell by 3 percent to 6,560. Court timelines for landlord proceedings showed modest efficiency gains: the median time from an initial claim to a bailiff repossession shortened slightly to 27.1 weeks, down from 27.9 weeks a year earlier.
London remained the centre of court-led possession activity, accounting for nearly one-third of all proceedings across England and Wales. London courts recorded 7,793 landlord claims, up 2 percent, and 5,440 possession orders. Eight of the 10 local authority areas with the highest rates of private landlord claims were London boroughs. Enfield recorded the highest private landlord claim rate, while Barking and Dagenham recorded the highest rate of private landlord repossessions.
Outlook
The figures cover courts in England and Wales, but the Renters' Rights Act 2025 changes discussed here apply to England. The MoJ said the quarter included two months after the reforms took effect and that it was not yet clear whether changes in claim types could be attributed to the Act. It will continue to monitor the figures in future quarters.
