Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Property118. Read the original article for full details.

Ministry of Justice Reports Rise in Landlord Possession Claims in Q1 2026

The latest Ministry of Justice figures show an increase in landlord possession claims and accelerated possession claims in the first quarter of 2026. The data, released today, does not indicate a dramatic spike overall, but suggests ongoing pressure within the private rented sector ahead of the Renters’ Rights changes.

According to the figures, accelerated possession claims rose from 6,489 in Q4 2025 to 6,599 in Q1 2026. Overall landlord possession claims also increased, moving from 21,457 to 22,733 quarter-on-quarter.

The report notes that there is often a considerable lag between landlords serving notice, seeking legal advice, and cases formally progressing to the court claim stage. As a result, much of the activity in the sector leading up to the legislative changes may not yet be reflected in these figures.

Landlord Action, a specialist in tenant eviction and debt collection, reported experiencing one of its busiest periods ahead of the reforms, with a significant increase in landlord enquiries and instructions. However, many of these cases were still in the early stages of the possession process during Q1 2026.

The report suggests that figures for Q2 and Q3 2026 are expected to provide a clearer indication of the true level of possession activity following the legislative changes and the extent of pressure within the court system.