Letting agents’ trade body Propertymark has thrown its weight behind additional funding to help those facing eviction.
But it wants the government to speed up the process.
The government has announced a multi-million-pound funding package to expand access to free legal advice for people in England facing eviction or home repossession.
This will focus on early advice, helping all parties to an eviction or repossession understand their rights and responsibilities, and where possible avoid disputes escalating to court.
So far, so good says Propertymark – but it believes more reform is required.
In a statement on its website over the festive season, the trade body says there must also be additional investment in the courts, clearer processes for possession cases and better integration of advice, mediation and enforcement.
It says: “Propertymark has long argued that access to justice is a critical part of a well-functioning housing sector. Delays, complexity and under-resourcing within the courts system can be damaging for tenants, landlords and agents alike, often prolonging disputes and increasing costs for all parties.
“We have consistently called for reforms that improve efficiency, fairness and confidence in housing justice. This includes ensuring that people facing possession proceedings can access timely legal advice, while also enabling landlords to resolve legitimate cases without excessive delay.”
Propertymark has backed earlier proposals to reform enforcement processes and modernise the courts system, in a bid to reduce backlogs, improve consistency and ensure cases are dealt with by appropriately trained judges.
And it adds: “In our engagement with Parliament, including debates in the House of Lords, we have stressed that a justice system which works well benefits everyone in the housing sector. Faster, clearer and more accessible processes help prevent disputes escalating and support better outcomes for tenants and landlords.
“… We will continue to work with policymakers to push for a housing justice system that is fair, efficient and fit for the realities of today’s housing market, supporting our members and the communities they serve.”
This article is taken from Landlord Today