England’s tribunal system is already overburdened according to research from proptech company Reapit, raising concerns about how it will manage new claims arising from the Renters Reform bill.
The bill is currently going through the parliamentary process and is designed to heighten tenant protections, but some in the letting industry have criticised it for unfairly favouring tenants over landlords.
Focus is now turning to what the bill, if it became law, could mean for England’s tribunals.
Reapit has found that between 2019 and 2023 the number of rent cases before England’s Residential Property Tribunals increased by almost 89% - from 483 to 921.
These cases arise when tenants challenge a Section 13 rent notice, which may end up being the only way landlords can raise rents should the Renters Reform Bill pass as currently drafted.
In addition, as of 31st March 2024, open cases at England’s Residential Property Tribunals exceeded 8,000 due to a 144% caseload rise since 2019.
This is creating a clear need for greater investment in court capacity according to Steve Richmond, general manager at Reapit UK&I (pictured above).
“The Renters' Rights Bill brings significant changes but adds more pressure to an already strained system,” said Steve. “We’re also concerned the government hasn’t fully considered the added costs to courts and tribunals, as no impact assessment has been published.”
A key area of investment, he argues, could be digitisation of the tribunal process. For example, tribunals will often visit properties whereas photos and videos submitted digitally could enhance efficiency and drive savings.
In addition, Steve argues the government should publish a database of market rents, so tenants can check if their rents are close to market rates before they apply to a tribunal.
“If landlords lack confidence in the court and tribunal system to handle rent appeals and evictions quickly and fairly, we are concerned about the unintended consequences,” he added. “We need the government to address the court and tribunal backlog because lengthy delays will burden both landlords and tenants with months of uncertainty.”
