When a landlord seeks to regain possession of their property from a tenant who is in breach of their tenancy agreement, they may need to obtain an Accelerated Possession Order from the court. This is a quicker and more straightforward process compared to the standard possession proceedings. However, there are costs involved, including the accelerated possession order court fee.
The accelerated possession order court fee is the fee that the landlord must pay to the court when applying for an Accelerated Possession Order. This fee was introduced as part of the government’s efforts to streamline the possession process and make it more efficient for landlords.
The current fee for applying for an Accelerated Possession Order is £355. This fee must be paid upfront when submitting the application to the court. It is non-refundable, even if the application is unsuccessful. The fee covers the administrative costs associated with processing the application and scheduling the court hearing.
It is important for landlords to be aware of the accelerated possession order court fee and budget for it accordingly. Failure to pay the fee will result in the application not being processed, and the landlord will not be able to regain possession of their property through the accelerated route.
There are a few exceptions where the court fee may be waived or reduced. For example, if the landlord is in receipt of certain benefits or has a low income, they may be eligible for a fee remission. Additionally, if the landlord is a social housing provider seeking possession of their property for anti-social behaviour, they may not have to pay the fee.
It is worth noting that the court fee is just one of the costs that landlords may incur when seeking possession of their property. There may be other expenses such as legal fees, serving notice on the tenant, and attending court hearings. Landlords should factor in these costs when deciding whether to pursue an Accelerated Possession Order.
Despite the costs involved, the Accelerated Possession Order process can be a more efficient way for landlords to regain possession of their property. The process typically takes around 6-8 weeks from start to finish, compared to the standard possession proceedings which can take several months.
To apply for an Accelerated Possession Order, the landlord must fill out the necessary forms and submit them to the court along with the court fee. The court will then review the application and schedule a hearing. At the hearing, the judge will consider the evidence presented by both parties and make a decision on whether to grant the possession order.
If the judge grants the possession order, the tenant will be given a specified amount of time to vacate the property. If they fail to do so, the landlord can apply for a warrant of possession to have the tenant forcibly removed from the property.
In conclusion, the Accelerated Possession Order Court Fee is an important cost that landlords must consider when seeking possession of their property. It is a non-refundable fee that must be paid at the time of application. While there are some exceptions where the fee may be waived or reduced, landlords should be prepared to cover this expense as part of the possession process. Ultimately, the fee is a small price to pay for a quicker and more streamlined way to regain possession of the property.