ARLA: Dedicated Housing Court needed to cover all lettings sector legal disputes

ARLA (The Association of Residential Letting Agents) wants a dedicated court or tribunal to deal with all property and housing related legal disputes.

The Association has responded to the Civil Justice Council’s Property Disputes Working Group discussion paper, which is investigating procedures for resolving disputes between landlords and tenants.

The aim, according to the working group, is to minimise the need for landlords, tenants or other property-related litigants to go to more than one court or tribunal to settle a dispute.

 ARLA’s response says there is a need for a better rationalisation of dispute resolution, with the emphasis on the need for landlords in particular to have access to “a swift, efficient and cost effective justice system.”

The Association says: “We believe that by establishing a new housing court or tribunal to deal with all matters concerning housing and property this will speed up the system, increase expertise in the decision making process and ensure greater consistency with reduced costs.”