The response period closes on 22 January 2019, and we strongly urge all landlords to submit a response. The explanations that go with the questions are only short.
It is not entirely clear what the Government is hoping to achieve as the questions are quite wide-ranging and pick up some fairly random issues. The document states that the Government wants to explore “ways of reducing delays and improving the service for all users” who bring housing cases to the county courts and the First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) (FTT).
It also asks whether “a Specialist Housing Court could make it easier for all users…to resolve disputes, reduce delays and secure justice”.
There are four parts to the call for evidence:
The questions in Part Three ask for your experience of what could be made better or easier in the Court processes.
Solicitors and landlords alike are all equally frustrated with the very extensive delays now being typically experienced, (e.g. call centres routinely advising there is a 35-day delay in processing orders and Courts advising they have a shortage of Bailiffs so to expect up to 13 weeks for eviction dates etc. being recent examples).
Now is your chance to give some hard evidence about some of the cases that you are dealing with. Explain how much it is costing you in rent arrears, for example, and in resident dissatisfaction due to the delays in getting through the court process?
No doubt one of the key drivers behind this Call for Evidence and the Housing Court proposal is a desire to reduce costs. Comments are sought on four options proposed, which are:
We look forward to hearing the views of clients and delegates at our Annual Housing Management Law seminars in Birmingham on 20 November, Manchester on 27 November and London on 4 December. We will then collate and add your feedback to our response. However, we strongly encourage all landlords to consider the paper carefully and put in their own response, as this opportunity is a rare one!
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