Agents encouraged to participate in sector-wide survey – TNT

Property professionals, including agents, are being encouraged to complete an industry wide survey from the High Court Enforcement Officers Association to better understand current issues within the sector.

The survey has been designed to gather information and sentiment to help improve and progress understanding as to when High Court action might be an appropriate route to consider, and what services should be implemented in the future.

There can be complex reasons why tenancy agreements fail, and proportionate action might need to be considered. To help understand and better provision for future needs, the High Court Enforcement Officers Association is seeking real-world feedback from across the sector to help shape and deliver services for the future.

Currently, there is much regional disparity regarding the capacity and efficiency of county courts and their ability to deal with housing related issues. The new survey aims to collectively gather information from a wide range of touchpoints and provide a steer for future engagement at government level to promote positive change.

The survey can be accessed via the following link: 

Michael Jackson, Vice-Chair of the High Court Enforcement Officers Association (HCEOA), said: “We are pleased to be working with Propertymark and other partners on this research. The reality is that the system is stretched, and landlords simply can’t afford to wait months on end. It’s clear that this postcode lottery of delays in County Court evictions is proving to be a real nightmare for landlords in some parts of the country. High Court enforcement isn’t a magic wand, and it won’t be the right choice for every landlord right now, but it can certainly help those facing the worst delays in evictions, which are unfairly costing landlords thousands of pounds.”

Reflecting on the survey, Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, commented: “Propertymark member agents cite delays at every stage of the possession action process in the County Court, which begins from the initial claim up to the eventual possession by a County Court Bailiff and is the product of many contributing factors. To this end, enforcement timings can drastically differ from region to region. We know that when using a High Court Enforcement Officer, the execution of a Possession Order is notably quicker. It is therefore vital that the UK government looks at reform in this area to improve access to justice in the private rented sector.”