How many landlord claims have reached the courts?

Court claims by landlords

23,635

April to June 2026

Up from 22,352 in April to June 2025

Where this sits in the last 10 years
10-year low 3,02310-year high 35,185
Published
Next update
next month

Recent figures may be revised.

Landlord possession claims

Selected pointApril to June 2026 · 23,635, up 1,283 on a year earlier

Usual range (middle 80% of the last 10 years)

Each year adds up the quarters. 2026 so far covers January to June.

Each line is the running total from January. 2026 so far covers January to June.

Source: Ministry of Justice

What this means for people

A higher count means more landlords have asked a county court to start possession action.

These are claims issued in the county courts of England and Wales. A claim asks the court to begin action over a rented home. It is separate from a household actually leaving.

Latest figures

See the figures as a table
The latest 12 readings, newest first.
PeriodValue
April to June 202623,635
January to March 202622,720
October to December 202521,457
July to September 202523,319
April to June 202522,352
January to March 202523,964
October to December 202424,004
July to September 202425,402
April to June 202424,491
January to March 202424,869
October to December 202323,374
July to September 202324,922
Each year adds up the quarters.
YearPeriod coveredValue
2026 so farJanuary to June46,355
2025January to December91,092
2024January to December98,766
2023January to December94,211
2022January to December78,688
2021January to December38,011
2020January to December39,681
2019January to December110,907
2018January to December121,712
2017January to December132,643
2016January to December137,369
2015January to December153,691
Each quarter
Each line is the running total from January.
Period2023202420252026 so far
January to March23,38924,86923,96422,720
April to June45,91549,36046,31646,355
July to September70,83774,76269,635
October to December94,21198,76691,092

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How to read this

A claim is not an eviction

The court has been asked to act. An order can be suspended, so the household may stay.

England and Wales

These figures cover county courts in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland use their own courts.

Courts paused most possession work in 2020

In 2020 the courts paused most possession work, so fewer claims were issued.

Not seasonally adjusted

Compare a quarter with a year earlier. Claims are not adjusted for the time of year.

Renting rules can change the count

A change in the rules for renting can change how many claims landlords bring, even when arrears do not.

Source

Publisher
Ministry of Justice
Official title
Landlord possession claims issued in the county courts of England and Wales
Series
table-4-claims-issued
Geography
England and Wales
Status
Accredited official statistics
Cite this

Ministry of Justice (2026) Landlord possession claims issued in the county courts of England and Wales, April to June 2026 (series table-4-claims-issued).