Defended Possession Claims
The Landlord Group is run by specialists who have dealt with thousands of defended possession cases in the County Courts across England and Wales.
Tenants have the right to file a defence to a possession claim and in some cases may seek to challenge the landlord’s case or raise additional issues. While this can make the process more involved, many defences do not ultimately prevent a landlord from obtaining a possession order where the claim has been properly prepared and presented to the court.
Where a claim becomes defended, we are able to review the defence and advise you on the most effective way to progress the case through the court process.
For defended actions, we offer a fixed fee quotation once the defence and court papers have been reviewed.
How Courts Deal with Tenant Defences
Possession proceedings are decided by a judge of the County Court.
Tenants have the right to challenge a landlord’s claim by submitting a formal defence, and in some cases may also raise a counterclaim against the landlord.
Once a defence has been filed, the court will normally give directions for how the case should proceed. This may include further evidence, additional witness statements, or a full hearing before a judge.
It is also not uncommon for tenants to raise issues at the hearing itself, even where no formal defence has been filed.
Specialist Support for Defended Cases
Defended possession claims can become procedurally complex and time-consuming, particularly where tenants raise multiple issues or counterclaims.
The Landlord Group is run by specialists with extensive experience in landlord and tenant litigation. Where a claim becomes defended, we are able to continue handling the matter and guide it through the court process, ensuring that the landlord’s case is properly prepared and presented before the court.
Unlike many organisations, we do not pass cases to unknown third parties or require landlords to start again with new advisers. The same experienced team that has supported you through the earlier stages of the process can continue assisting you as the case progresses.
If your tenant has filed a defence or you expect the claim to be contested, please contact us to discuss your case.
