Now is probably not a good time to bring a claim for possession through the courts.
Bog standard claims will probably go through all right but I predict dire delays for cases where non standard hearings are required.
Strike action
My inbox has brought me two news items which will fill all those who use the courts with a deep foreboding.
The first of these is news that the Courts will be conducting a walk out on Thursday in protest over cuts to their pensions. They will then work to rule from then on until August, refusing all overtime.
Or so they say. Individual court workers strapped for cash may succumb. But it does not look good.
Last year the courts relied heavily on workers doing overtime to get the extra work caused by the riots done. And apparently 1,200 posts have been cut by HM Courts and Tribunals Service this year. Delays look inevitable.
Priority, we are told, is to be given to urgent business if the strike goes ahead. We all know what that means. Repossession claims will be pushed to the back of the queue.
Olympic cuts
The other piece of news will be particularly grim news for London court goers, already suffering the longest delays.
Apparently the courts are going to scale back their work considerably during the Olympics (which looks set to be a really fun time for anyone who just wants to get on with their work).
Although this is largely due to fears that jurors and witnesses will be unable to reach the courts due to the massive traffic expected at that time, we are told that other work will also be scaled back.
Heigh ho!
My advice? Make sure your paperwork is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT so there is no reason for the Judge to push your claim to the back of the queue.
About the author
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I left the civil service after 21 years as it was evident that the cuts would only bring more hours for less pay and even less recognition. Unlike the bankers I never saw one penny of a bonus despite being verbally and sometimes physically abused almost on a daily basis. I have family members who continue to work for the government including the courts and I’m afraid to say more strikes are inevitable…..
I have a LOT of sympathy with court clerks and agree they deserve more pay and recognition.
However as always with strikes, the people who will suffer are not those responsible for the problem the workers are striking about, but the innocent users of the service.
In the London courts where I ply my trade already, when adjourning or suspending a possession case the ‘First available date after 28 days’ can often be a few months.
Good news for mortgage borrowers fighting off lender repossession but bad news for landlords trying to get rid of nightmare tenants. No rent and long delays mean many will themselves end up as victims of mortgage repo’s
Ah, not an enviable position for all concerned, here’s hoping a resolution is found swiftly.
Regards
Steve
Steve Frost recently posted..The Importance of Being Professional