Average landlord losses have surpassed £10,000 per possession case in seven court regions, as delays continue to lengthen. 

Fresh analysis underscores the growing financial burden on landlords and letting agents and identifies the area’s most severely affected. 

In London, the impact is particularly stark: landlords now face average losses of £27,436, with possession cases taking roughly a year to progress.

The remaining six court areas where average losses exceed £10,000 per possession case are all located in or around London and the South East: 

• Croydon (£19,124)

• Romford (£17,046), 

• Uxbridge (£14,968), 

• Kingston upon Thames (£13,513), 

• Chelmsford (£13,513) 

• Watford (£12,890). 

The data also highlights significant inconsistency in delays across the country. Teesside and Croydon each recorded average waits of eight months, while Chester, Northampton and Peterborough averaged seven months. 

This regional variation means both costs and timescales differ sharply by location, making it increasingly difficult for landlords and letting professionals to plan with any sureness.

A spokesman for solicitors for landlords, says: “While there are some early signs of improvement in parts of the system, the overall picture remains deeply worrying for landlords. 

“In many courts, it can still take the best part of a year to regain possession. 

“These delays aren’t just an administrative inconvenience, they represent months of lost income and uncertainty, which the latest figures make very clear. “

Landlords continue to face lengthy waits and rising arrears before even straightforward possession cases are resolved — and this is before the Renters Rights Act is fully implemented. 

The findings come from the latest Quarterly CourtWatch report, which analyses around 1,200 possession-related applications each year. The report aims to give landlords, letting agents and industry stakeholders a clearer understanding of how court delays are translating into real-world financial losses.