What costs can the eviction process include for landlords?
With many costs increasing for landlords, gaining repossession of a property can be no exception. Rentguard, the NRLA’s Legal Expenses and Rent Guarantee Insurance partner, has summarised what’s typically involved in the eviction process and the costs it can incur.
Rent guarantee insurance can provide cover designed to help protect landlords from the financial losses that can occur as a result of tenants failing to pay their rent. This insurance can typically cover rent arrears and legal costs associated with the eviction of a tenant who has not paid their rent. As can be the case with any insurance policy, landlords should carefully review the terms and conditions to ensure the cover is suitable for their needs.
All costs in this article were correct at the time of researching.
What costs can the eviction process include?
It is important to fully understand the proper procedures for evicting a tenant, otherwise you may be at risk of doing so illegally. Researching this process thoroughly can also help you to understand the costs that may be involved.
Costs can include:
- £391 to apply to use the possession claim online service, which lets you complete court forms online and check the status of your claim.
- £143 to apply for a warrant for possession.
- £78 if you wish to transfer the warrant for possession from the county court to the high court and apply for permission from the county court.
Do you need to hire a solicitor to evict a tenant?
When evicting a tenant, you can choose to either do so independently or to instruct a solicitor for your case. Further costs will be incurred if you do decide to use a solicitor. These costs can vary greatly depending on the solicitor you choose, your location, and the complexity of the case.
If you decide to take out a Legal Expenses and Rent Guarantee Insurance policy with Rentguard, in the event of a valid claim under Rentguard’s insurance, a solicitor will be appointed for you to handle your case.
Costs to consider after evicting a tenant
As well as the legal costs that can be covered by suitable Legal Expenses and Rent Guarantee Insurance, there are the costs for repairing and replacing damaged parts of the building and contents to consider.
After evicting your tenant from the property, inspect the property for any damage and determine what repairs and maintenance tasks are required. If property damage has occurred, then furniture may need replacing, for example. Check that all appliances are in good working order as well, and repair or replace these as necessary.
A professional clean at the end of a tenancy can help to ensure the property is in a good, habitable condition for the next tenants. It can also be a good idea to change the locks after a tenant moves out to help avoid security risks, as you never know who has kept a spare key.
Depending on the circumstances of the eviction, the costs involved in the above processes may be greater than at the end of a normal tenancy. If there is bad blood between the tenant and landlord, then they may be more likely to cause damage and leave the property without cleaning or informing you of any issues.
Legal Expenses and Rent Guarantee Insurance from Rentguard
You can take every step to make your buy-to-let investment successful, but despite your best efforts, some situations are unpredictable. Legal Expenses and Rent Guarantee Insurance can help to provide peace of mind that if issues out of your control occur, such as a tenant failing to pay rent and remaining in the property, you have suitable cover in place.
Or speak to our specialist team on 0333 000 0169.
The sole purpose of this article is to provide information on the issues covered. This article is not intended to give legal advice, and, accordingly, it should not be relied upon. It should not be regarded as a comprehensive statement of the law and/or market practice in this area. We make no claims as to the completeness or accuracy of the information contained herein or in the links which were live at the date of publication. You should not act upon (or should refrain from acting upon) information in this publication without first seeking specific legal and/or specialist advice.
Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited trading as Rentguard and National Residential Landlords Association, an Introducer Appointed Representative of Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited, accepts no liability for any inaccuracy, omission or mistake in this publication, nor will we be responsible for any loss which may be suffered as a result of any person relying on the information contained herein.
National Residential Landlords Association is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Office: Spectrum Building, 55 Blythswood Street, Glasgow, G2 7AT. Registered in Scotland. Company Number: SC108909. Rentguard is a trading name of Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited.
