From 13 July 2026, court fees for landlords will increase in line with inflation. The changes affect possession claims in the County Court, bailiff fees, and a wide range of fees in the Residential Property Division of the First-tier Tribunal Property Chamber. The increases are intended to fund improvements to the justice system, including the end-to-end digitisation of the possession court process promised under the Renters' Rights Act.
Key Fee Changes from 13 July 2026
The most significant changes for landlords are:
- Possession claims (County Court): increasing from £404 to £415.
- Bailiff fees (warrant of possession or delivery): increasing from £148 to £152.
- Appeals against local authority decisions: increased cost.
- 80 fees in the Residential Property Division of the First-tier Tribunal Property Chamber will increase, covering leasehold and most residential property cases.
Fees Frozen or Reduced
Not all fees are increasing. Notably:
- Fees for tenants challenging a proposed rent increase remain frozen at £47 — the hearing fee is also waived. This is a deliberate policy choice to ensure tenants can challenge rent increases without financial barriers.
- Fees for pitch fee determinations (mobile homes) remain at £23, with the hearing fee waived.
- Urgent building safety matters remain free until early 2027.
- Electronic Communications Code cases remain free until early 2027.
- Four fees have been reduced to reflect lower underlying costs.
The New Tiered Fee Framework for the Property Chamber
The 80 fee changes in the Residential Property Division introduce a new tiered fee framework with five tiers. Most cases will attract an application fee of £200 and a hearing fee of £300, or £114 and £227 for lower-value cases. The new framework is designed to make the fee structure more transparent and proportionate to the complexity of the case.
The Broader Context: 170 Fees Increasing Across the Courts
The July 2026 changes are part of a wider package of court fee increases. In total, 170 fees across the civil courts are increasing by 2.6% in line with 2024/25 inflation. A further 27 fees are increasing by an average of 34% to account for accumulated inflation that was not passed on in previous years. The probate application fee is increasing to £526.
Why Are Fees Increasing?
The government has been clear that the fee increases are intended to fund improvements to the justice system, including the digitisation of the possession court process promised under the Renters' Rights Act. Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has pledged end-to-end digitisation of the possession process by spring 2027. The current paper-based system, combined with the requirement for a court hearing in every Section 8 possession case, has created significant backlogs — with waiting times already around eight months before the Act came into force.
What This Means for Chester Landlords
The fee increases are modest in absolute terms — an extra £11 for a possession claim, an extra £4 for a bailiff warrant. However, they are a reminder that the cost of recovering possession under the new Section 8 regime is higher than under the old Section 21 process, both in terms of fees and time. Landlords should factor these costs into their financial planning and ensure they have robust tenancy management processes in place to minimise the risk of needing to bring possession proceedings.
Need Help with a Possession Claim?
PDA Letting Agents has an in-house landlord's solicitor who can advise you on the Section 8 possession process, prepare and serve notices, and represent you in court if required. Contact us to discuss your situation — we offer a free initial consultation for Chester and North Wales landlords.
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