What is the biggest cost of an eviction?

Usually lost rent. Court fees are modest by comparison; months of unpaid rent while the case runs often dwarf everything else.

Can I recover my costs from the tenant?

You can ask the court for a money judgment for arrears and fixed costs, but recovering it depends on the tenant's means. Many landlords never see the full sum.

Can I use the deposit towards arrears?

Yes, through your deposit scheme's process at the end of the tenancy, provided the deposit was protected and the claim is supported by evidence.

How do I keep eviction costs down?

Act early on arrears, keep a clean rent ledger and compliance file, and serve a notice that is right first time. A rejected notice can add months of lost rent.

Landlord guide · England

How much does it cost to evict a tenant?

Court fees are only a small part of what an eviction costs. Lost rent, legal help, enforcement, repairs and the void period afterwards usually matter far more. This guide breaks the costs down so you can budget realistically, and explains how sound paperwork shortens the process.

The cost stages

1
Price the court fees
A possession claim and a warrant of possession each carry a court fee. Check the current figures on GOV.UK's court fees list, as they change periodically.
2
Decide on legal help
Some landlords handle straightforward arrears claims themselves; others pay a solicitor or eviction service a fixed fee per stage. Contested hearings cost more.
3
Budget for lost rent
The largest cost is usually unpaid rent during the notice period, court wait and enforcement. Several months of rent is common.
4
Add void, repair and reletting costs
After possession you may face cleaning, repairs beyond the deposit, a void period and new letting costs.

Why delays are the real expense

Every month a claim takes is another month of rent you may not get back. Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 all evictions go through Section 8 grounds, so a defective notice or missing compliance document can reset the clock entirely.

Wrong notice period: the notice is invalid and must be reserved.
Arrears figures that do not match the ledger: the ground may fail.
Unprotected deposit: a counterclaim of up to three times the deposit.

Court fees change. Always check the current possession claim and warrant fees on GOV.UK before budgeting.

How RentDocs.co.uk helps

Automated rent reminders that catch arrears early.
A rent ledger and compliance file ready for a court bundle.
Notice generator that calculates valid Section 8 dates.

Cut the delays that make evictions expensive

RentDocs.co.uk costs £5 a month per property, with a free account to try it on one tenancy.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the biggest cost of an eviction?: Usually lost rent. Court fees are modest by comparison; months of unpaid rent while the case runs often dwarf everything else.
Can I recover my costs from the tenant?: You can ask the court for a money judgment for arrears and fixed costs, but recovering it depends on the tenant's means. Many landlords never see the full sum.
Can I use the deposit towards arrears?: Yes, through your deposit scheme's process at the end of the tenancy, provided the deposit was protected and the claim is supported by evidence.
How do I keep eviction costs down?: Act early on arrears, keep a clean rent ledger and compliance file, and serve a notice that is right first time. A rejected notice can add months of lost rent.

Keep reading

This guide is general information and not legal or financial advice.