Landlords and property professionals are being urged to complete an industry-wide survey from the High Court Enforcement Officers Association (HCEOA).

The survey, supported by  Propertymark and other stakeholders, has been designed to gather information to help improve understanding of when High Court action might be an appropriate route to consider, and what services should be implemented in the future.

There can be complex reasons why tenancy agreements fail, and court action might need to be considered.

But currently, there is much regional inconsistency regarding the capacity and efficiency of county courts and their ability to deal with housing related issues.

The survey aims to collect information from a wide range of touchpoints and provide guidance  for future engagement at government level to promote positive change.

Commenting, Propertymark head of policy and campaigns Timothy Douglas said: “Propertymark member agents cite delays at every stage of the possession action process in the County Court, which begins from the initial claim up to the eventual possession by a County Court Bailiff and is the product of many contributing factors.

To this end, enforcement timings can drastically differ from region to region. We know that when using a High Court Enforcement Officer, the execution of a Possession Order is notably quicker. It is therefore vital that the UK Government looks at reform in this area to improve access to justice in the private rented sector.”

HCEOA vice chair Michael Jackson  said: “The reality is that the system is stretched, and landlords simply can’t afford to wait months on end. It’s clear that this postcode lottery of delays in County Court evictions is proving to be a real nightmare for landlords in some parts of the country. “

He added: “High Court enforcement isn’t a magic wand, and it won’t be the right choice for every landlord right now, but it can certainly help those facing the worst delays in evictions, which are unfairly costing landlords thousands of pounds.”