Member

From the landlord’s point of view, as my noble friend has just said, that is seven months during which a responsible landlord is left with no income, with possible consequences for his mortgage, and when he is unable to recover the property when there is serious anti-social behaviour; and it is seven months during which neighbours might have to endure the disruption. From a tenant’s point of view, that is seven months when tenants who are genuinely in need of housing will not have access to the market, because the homes that they might move into are unavailable and tied up in legal delays. It is only right and fair that responsible landlords have confidence that the system will not leave them in limbo when they have legitimate grounds for possession. That point is underlined if, as the Minister has constantly told us, she wants fresh investment in the private rented sector. Any delay in the court system will inhibit that investment.