25^th Jan 2019

A leading PropTech entrepreneur is backing the government's Housing Court initative and believes it is the perfect solution to provide a faster and simpler redress process for agents, landlords and tenants.

Neil Cobbold, chief operating officer of an automated transaction platform, is supporting the government's initiative upon closing its Call for Evidence (January 21st) to decide how useful a dedicated Housing Court could be.

The Court will preside over properly related issues such as, rental residences in poor and dangerous condition, repossessions, which will replace tenants being taken to Magistrates', County, or High Courts, and for tenants to seek justice against landlords.

The entrepreneur said: “A dedicated Housing Court could provide a range of benefits for letting agents for disputes between landlords and tenants to be resolved quicker. It could also tie in effectively with the government's ongoing plans to introduce a single housing ombudsman for the property sector."

Cobbold added:"A less complicated redress system which is solely designed to deal with housing disputes is in the interests of everyone in the industry."

Cobbold believes that the proposed court would not only allay fears for landlords when serious rental arrears are stacked up by renters with a lengthy tenancy about regaining repossession, as the law currently supports the tenants.

Official figures released by the government estimate that on average it takes to gain repossession of a property after a County Court's ruling in the landlord's favour, is more than sixteen weeks.

Cobbold said "A dedicated housing court could make it easier and quicker for landlords to regain possession of a property via the legal system. What's more, a simplified system could also make the process easier for landlords to navigate without costly professional legal support."

He also says that tenants themselves can feel safer with the advent of the court, as they too will be able to prosecute landlords who do not provide properties fit for human habitation.

"Many renters may not be fully aware of the current course of action they need to take to pursue a dispute with their landlord through the courts. A Housing Court could be more accessible and provide people with a single route for redress.”

The government's Call for Evidence started in November and has been listening to views from the sector as to whether Housing Court would benefit, agents, landlords, tenants and the private rented sector in general.


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