Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his department is taking to engage with HM Courts & Tribunals Service to ensure central recording of the average time for the First-tier Tribunal Property Chamber to consider, process and rule upon rent appeal cases brought by tenants, and to ensure this central recording will be in place prior to implementation of the Renters' Rights Act 2025.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

My Department continues to work closely with the Ministry of Justice to ensure that the justice system is well prepared for our reforms, including ensuring that suitable arrangements are in place for monitoring data relating to rent increase challenges.

In the Property Chamber, work is progressing to increase capacity, as well as reviewing resource and working practices in readiness for any increase in demand. This includes work by HMCTS on plans for improvements to the data they capture and draw from supporting systems to the Tribunal.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, the dates of each occasion that (a) ministers and (b) officials engaged with Tufan Erhurman in the previous 12 months.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I met Tufan Erhurman on 7 March and spoke to him by phone on 25 June this year, as set out in the department's quarterly transparency data, in relation to Cyprus settlement and the UN 5+1 talks.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that HM Courts & Tribunals Service centrally record the average time for the First-tier Tribunal Property Chamber to consider, process and rule upon rent appeal cases brought by tenants; and whether this will be in place prior to implementation of the Renters' Rights Act 2025.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is preparing the First -Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) for the implementation of the measures in the Renters’ Right Act 2025. Work is ongoing to ensure that there is sufficient capacity to meet the anticipated additional demand.

HMCTS is working on plans for improvements to the data we capture and draw from the supporting systems for the Tribunal as part of our preparations for the Renters’ Rights Act.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many rent appeal cases were brought to each English regional residential property First-tier Tribunal Property Chamber by tenants each year over the past three full years, and what was the average time for the Tribunal to consider, process, and rule upon those appeals.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

HM Courts & Tribunals Service does not hold specific information for rent appeal cases. Published data is published on residential property, which will include rent appeal cases: Main_Tables_Q4_2024_25.ods.