Landlord possession rates continue to drop

Posted: 18 Aug 2008 12:34:04 GMT

The number of landlords being forced to pursue possession claims against their tenants fell during the second quarter of 2008, according to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Justice.

Figures from the department revealed that 28,042 landlord possession orders were made during the period, down one per cent from the first quarter of the year.

Total annual possession orders have been falling since 2002, when they reached a peak of 195,473. In 2007, this figure was just 146,790, including claims made through both standard and accelerated possession procedures.

Commenting on the newly-published statistics, the National Landlords Association welcomed the downward trend in landlord possessions.

"The facts speak for themselves," said Simon Gordon, head of communications at the NLA. "Fewer and fewer landlords are going to court to issue possession claims against their tenants."

He suggested that the downwards trend indicates that fewer landlords are being forced into taking such a definitive course of action leading to the eviction of their current tenants, evidence that the vast majority of tenancies are operating with no issues.

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