Tenants and landlords across the UK have criticised the Government’s attempt to increase court fees for disputes regarding rent arrears.
For landlords’ tenants that have fallen into rent arrears, and mortgage lenders whose borrowers have fallen into mortgage arrears, the proposed fee increase from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is £75.
In a county court case this would mean the overall cost would rise to £355, which has sparked outrage among landlords.
The fee hike would come at a time when the fees for taking tenants to court under other circumstances, like evicting them for antisocial behaviour, have also increased.
The move would generate an additional £17m for MoJ finances, but families and individuals that are struggling to fulfil their financial commitments, such as rent and mortgages, could suffer even more if a decision is made in favour of the proposal.
Landlords could also be priced out of the invaluable services offered by courts, but the MoJ claims in its consultation, which ends this month, that the fee is more likely to be recovered from the losing opponent in the majority of cases.
A spokeswoman for the MoJ said: “It is only fair that wealthy businesses and individuals fighting legal battles pay more to ease the burden on taxpayers of the cost of running our courts… Waivers will be available for those who cannot afford to pay this fee.”