County Court Judgements rise 17.5% in first quarter
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Apr 30
County Court Judgements rise 17.5% in first quarter
2 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Apr 30
Registry Trust said 270,537 new CCJs were registered, as Britain’s energy debt climbed above a record £4.5bn.
The court orders, used in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to pursue unpaid debts, can damage credit records for six years and make borrowing or renting harder.
Charities say rising bills are pushing more households, including working families, to rely on credit cards, food banks and family support amid wider cost-of-living pressures.
Beyond court judgments, what is the hidden public health cost of Britain’s escalating energy debt crisis?
With millions trapped in debt, should energy be treated as a basic right rather than a market commodity?
Are global conflicts masking a domestic crisis rooted in poor policy and inefficient housing infrastructure?
Q1 2026 CCJ Surge: How Rent Arrears and the Renters’ Rights Act Overwhelm England’s Courts
Overview
In early 2026, a surge in County Court Judgments (CCJs) was driven by rising rent arrears and a severe backlog in county courts delaying possession claims, causing landlords to wait over seven months to regain properties and lose rental income. The Renters’ Rights Act, implemented in May 2026, abolished no-fault evictions, making eviction cases more complex, costly, and lengthy, which further strained courts and pushed landlords to rely more on money claims to recover unpaid rent. Meanwhile, rising rents outpaced wages, especially affecting low-income tenants, increasing arrears risk. Landlord exits and reduced rental supply threaten to worsen affordability, while government efforts to ease court backlogs face ongoing challenges.