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18 February 2026
Issue: 8150 / Categories: Legal News , Landlord&tenant , Property , Housing
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Repossession cases surge

Increased delays and backlogs in the courts ‘will be unavoidable’ when the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force in May unless extra funding is provided, the Law Society has warned

Private landlord repossessions were up 3% on the previous year in October to December 2025, according to the Ministry of Justice’s mortgage and landlord possession statistics. London borough Barking and Dagenham recorded the highest number of private landlord repossession claims—878 per 100,000 households.

Law Society president Mark Evans said the Renters’ Rights Act’s ban on ‘no fault’ evictions is likely to increase the number of contested repossessions, piling pressure on the courts.

Evans said the government ‘must ensure courts are properly funded to handle the expected rise. The courts must start getting ready now, not after the backlog starts growing even more’.

Issue: 8150 / Categories: Legal News , Landlord&tenant , Property , Housing
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Stephen Ward, The Barrister Group

NLJ Career Profile: Stephen Ward, The Barrister Group

From mowing lawns to life at the Bar: Stephen Ward reflects on an unconventional career

Clarke Willmott—Ben Loosemore

Clarke Willmott—Ben Loosemore

Commercial property partner joins Clarke Willmott in Southampton

Ellisons—Robert Tiffen

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Robert Tiffen joins Ellisons as Partner in growing Norwich office

NEWS
The Law Society RFC Festival of Sport returns next month, bringing together legal and financial services professionals for one of the sector’s largest annual sporting events
Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners

Jonathan Fisher KC highlights that it now accounts for around 40% of criminal offences, with roughly 70% involving technology, and argues that the UK cannot simply prosecute its way out of the problem. Detection, investigation and prosecution all require improvement, while different fraud types demand tailored responses.

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