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How much does it cost to evict a tenant in England?

Court fees are fixed: £415 to claim possession and £152 for bailiffs. Legal help is optional but common. The largest cost is usually the rent lost over a process whose median is 24.6 wks from claim to repossession.

Information, not legal advice. Know Your Let is not a law firm and does not act in court cases. We can help with the notice stage (see pricing); court claims and hearings are for you or a solicitor. If we introduce you to an SRA-regulated solicitor we may receive a referral fee, and we will tell you before any referral (how we make money).

Court fees (EX50, from 13 July 2026)

Stage	Fee
Section 8 notice (Form 3A)	£0 – free from GOV.UK
Possession claim (N5 paper or PCOL online)	£415
Warrant of possession, county court bailiff (N325)	£152
Total to bailiff stage	£567
Optional: permission to transfer to High Court (N244 without notice)	£126
Optional: sealing a High Court writ	£82 + enforcement officer fees
Possession claim issued in the High Court (exceptional)	£559

Solicitor costs for possession proceedings

Specialist firms usually charge fixed fees per stage. From fixed fees published by three firms that we checked on 27 September 2026 (including VAT and court fees where the firm included them):

Stage	Published range
Preparing and serving a section 8 notice	about £150 – £600
Issuing the claim and the hearing (incl. £415 court fee and advocate)	about £1,400 – £2,200
County court bailiff stage (incl. £152 fee)	about £330 – £630

Indicative only; defended cases, adjournments and High Court enforcement cost more. Always get a written quote and check the firm on the SRA register.

The hidden cost: lost rent

For a Ground 8 case, arrears have to reach 3 months' rent before you serve, then 4 weeks' notice, then the court stage (median 8.0 wks to an order and 24.6 wks to repossession, Q2 2026). With rent of £1,200 a month and nothing paid, that is often £10,000 or more by the time you get the keys. Estimate your own figure.

Ways to keep costs down

Get the notice right the first time – a defective notice means starting again.
Use PCOL for rent-only claims and keep a clear rent statement.
Ask for a money judgment for arrears and costs in the possession claim.
Consider whether the tenant would leave by agreement – a written surrender can be quicker than court.

We help only at the notice stage, at a fixed price – see pricing. For court work, see eviction solicitors.

Common questions

How much does it cost to evict a tenant in England?

Court fees alone are £415 for the claim and £152 for a bailiff warrant – £567 in total. Solicitor fixed fees we saw published ranged from roughly £150–£600 for the notice and £1,400–£2,200 for the claim and hearing, before bailiffs. The biggest cost is usually lost rent while the case runs.

Who pays for eviction costs?

The landlord pays up front. The judge can order the tenant to pay the court fee and some legal costs, usually added to a money judgment – but collecting it depends on the tenant being able to pay.

Can a landlord charge the tenant eviction fees?

Not as a fee in the tenancy: the Tenant Fees Act 2019 bans most charges. Costs can only be recovered if the court orders the tenant to pay them.

Are there no win no fee eviction solicitors?

Evictions are mostly sold at fixed fees per stage. We did not find no-win-no-fee eviction services; be careful with any that claim to be.

Can I get help with court fees?

Yes, if you have a low income or receive certain benefits, through Help with Fees (EX160). You must apply by post if you use it – not through PCOL.

Sources

Last checked 28 Sep 2026. Figures and fees change; check the official source before you act.