The Government has launched a new service which will enable landlords to start the process of evicting tenants using the Section 21 accelerated possession procedure by filling out an online form.

This was an idea which was first put forward by leading tenant eviction firm Landlord Action, as part of its role on a Government Think Tank to help speed up evictions.

Paul Shamplina, Founder of Landlord Action, said: “We are always campaigning to make life easier for landlords, especially through the distressing time of trying to regain possession of a property. We are pleased that the Government has listened to our initial ideas regarding making accelerated possession forms available online, as I really feel it will make a difference.”

Landlord Action had previously found that too many landlords, who did not have legal representation, were making mistakes in their applications to court, which then led to subsequent delays.

The new service is designed so that everyone can use it, with complex legal points explained in plain English and questions that are designed to gather information relevant to each landlord’s situation as well as check their eligibility for making such a claim.

Shamplina said: “Our solicitors are dealing with hundreds of claims for landlords seeking possession through Section 8 and Section 21 accelerated claims, where landlords don’t want the hassle of form filling or the risk of getting it wrong. This new online N5b form will go a long way in helping to prevent the most common mistakes landlords make, which often cause costly delays.“