Landlords to face a 10% increase in court fees

Landlords hit with higher court fees

Landlords will face a 10% increase in court fees starting this week, following a consultation process conducted shortly before Christmas. The fee hikes will affect various court activities, with landlords bearing the brunt of the increases in key areas:

- The fee for a warrant of possession will rise from £130 to £143.
- Enforcing a money judgment will increase from £119 to £131.
- Making a possession claim in the county court will go up from £355 to £391.

This increase in fees is attributed to a 17% rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) since the last fee adjustment in 2021. Court procedures involving landlords have faced significant criticism recently, with the timing of the ban on Section 21 evictions contingent upon marked improvements in the efficiency of possession cases.

The government argues that the fee hike will generate up to £37 million to invest in the court service, though it will take several months for the increased charges to have a tangible impact on the system. His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service maintains that these fee adjustments are warranted, being the first since September 2021, with future increases slated for implementation every two years.

If you have any questions regarding court fees or any other aspect of lettings and property management, please contact one of our specialist lettings team via our contact form or call 0161 511 5339.