County Court Bailiff Operations Suspended: What Happens Now?

Reclaiming your clients’ property can be a stressful, drawn-out and costly process – even when everything goes to plan.

Unfortunately for landlords, this situation is unlikely to improve anytime soon. With eviction processes set to become even lengthier, the court system in England and Wales is reported to be on the brink of an evictions crisis.

County Court Bailiffs Unable to Proceed with Evictions

One of London’s largest courts, the Central London County Court, has suspended bailiff operations indefinitely. A spokesperson for HM Courts & Tribunals Service told LandlordZONE that this suspension has been brought on by concerns over the safety of bailiffs, commenting:

“The safety of all bailiffs is of paramount importance. We are sourcing bespoke Personal Protective Equipment to ensure that all evictions can go ahead safely and securely.”

Prolonged disruptions in London are expected to have a knock-on effect on repossessions in other regions, with delays already reported to be reaching County Courts outside the capital.

What Options Are Available?

At present, there is no word on when the issues surrounding County Court bailiffs will be resolved and it will undoubtedly take many months for the backlog of appointments to be cleared.

When substantial rent or mortgage arrears have already been accrued, lengthy wait times are not an option for many clients, so waiting for the County Court is not currently considered the most efficient way to enforce a possession order.

The best option available is to instruct a High Court Enforcement Officer, such as Wilson & Roe, to enforce your order. This can help you to recover property quickly and effectively on behalf of your clients and prevent further financial losses due to the continued build-up of arrears.

What to Do Next

If you have been issued a Possession Order by the County Court and wish to transfer this to the High Court for enforcement, you will need to seek permission.

At Wilson & Roe, our years of experience mean that we can guide you through the process and secure vacant possession of the property in a short amount of time.

“Prior to the announcement that evictions within London will be suspended indefinitely, we had been assisting our clients in enforcing Writs of Possession at unprecedented levels since the pandemic moratorium ended,” explains Wilson & Roe Property Services Director, Alex Hill.

“Our Property Services team are on hand to assist the many claimants and legal representatives requiring our assistance with transferring to the High Court and restoring possession.”

We handle every case on an individual basis and with discretion. To discuss your requirements or for further information, contact our specialist Property Team on 0161 925 1800 or by email at property@wilsonandroe.com.

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