Nearly £20 million is being invested in extra support for tenants threatened with eviction over the next three years

Propertymark has warned the Government it must go further to reform the court system despite new funding to help eviction cases.

Nearly £20 million is being invested in extra support for tenants threatened with eviction over the next three years.

The new grant will run from October this year to March 2029.

It means that those on the edge of life changing moments – like eviction or bankruptcy – can get the help they need before they end up in court faced with the prospect of a costly legal bill they can’t afford, the Ministry of Justice says.

And Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy says: This funding will ensure that essential legal support and information is available to those who need it most.

There are many fears in the property sector that when Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions are abolished in May, there be even more severe delays in the court system.

Whilst Propertymark welcomes the new cash, it also says it must come with wider changes in the way the courts operate.

This comes at a time when demand for housing advice remains high, with many households facing affordability pressures and uncertainty, Propertymark says. However, this must sit alongside wider, long-term reform of the housing justice system.

Delays, complexity and under-resourcing within the courts system can be damaging for tenants, landlords and agents alike, often prolonging disputes and increasing costs for all parties, it adds.

Propertymark says it wants to see measures to reduce backlogs, and ensure cases are dealt with by appropriately trained judges.