An east London borough has emerged as one of the hardest-hit areas of the country for renters and leaseholders facing eviction.
Analysis of official data shared with The Standard reveals that Barking and Dagenham has the highest rate of possession claims in England and Wales.
Landlords are entitled to take legal action to repossess a property if they are owed money for rent or a mortgage.
This could also be the result of property damage, anti-social behaviour or simply because the landlord wishes to move into the property themselves.
If an occupant fails to leave by a specified date, owners can apply for a warrant or writ of possession, which could lead to an eviction by court bailiffs or enforcement officers.
Research shows that Barking and Dagenham had a total of 3,102 claims per 100,000 privately-rented households during the four quarters of last year.
The study by Higgs LLP discovered there were 850 such claims lodged by landlords in the second quarter of 2024.
That figure is 39 per cent more than during the same period the year before, the West Midland-based law firm said.
Other London boroughs which accounted for high claim rates included nearby Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest.
Landlord possession claims across England and Wales have risen by 5 per cent since 2023, reaching 98,797 in 2024.
Meanwhile, orders were up 7 per cent to 74,260, warrants up 11 per cent to 45,219, and repossessions up 10 per cent to 27,753.
Experts say residents are being squeezed between rising living costs and below-average incomes.
Despite a 7 per cent decline in London’s average sold property price over the past year to around £683,000, rent costs have not followed suit.
Zoopla reports that the average rent in the capital has climbed by 4.2 per cent to £2,121 per month, making the city the most expensive place to rent in the UK.
In Barking and Dagenham, property prices rose by 7.8 per cent in 2025 to an average of £363,000, while average monthly rent reached £1,568.
The average salary in Barking and Dagenham, home to more than 200,000 people, is £34,430 — nearly 2 per cent below the national average.
Nyree Applegarth, Head of Property Litigation at Higgs LLP, said: “The sharp rise in landlord possession actions highlights how a growing number of tenants are falling into arrears or breaching tenancy terms.
“But this isn't simply bad behaviour; it’s systemic pressure forcing renters to be backed into a corner — an expensive one at that.”
“Landlords often rely on rental income to cover costs or generate a livable return, but many tenants simply can't keep up.
“Without change and more support, we’ll continue to see a surge in evictions and formal possession actions.”
Alicia Walker, Assistant Director of Advocacy and Activism at the poverty charity Shelter, added: “Tenants are facing eye-watering rent hikes, all the while the threat of eviction constantly looms over their heads.
This isn't simply bad behaviour; it’s systemic pressure
“Every day our frontline services hear from people who are terrified of becoming homeless because they have been slapped with an exorbitant rent increase they can’t afford or issued an unfair eviction.”
And Ben Twomey, Chief Executive at Generation Rent, commented: “Everyone needs a secure and affordable home; it’s the foundation of our lives.
“But the soaring cost of renting means, when a landlord decides to evict their tenants, more and more people can’t find somewhere else affordable to live.”
Property investors are also racing to reclaim their homes ahead of Labour’s rental reforms, spearheaded by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, which will see “no-fault” evictions banned and rents more difficult to hike as part of its Renters’ Rights Bill.
But Barking MP Nesil Caliskan said her constituents were “badly let down by the last Conservative government” and stressed the importance of the legislation.
The Labour backbencher told The Standard: “For years, ministers dithered on renters' rights — and over 500 families here were evicted under ‘no fault’ rules.
“A Labour government is delivering where the Conservatives failed — ensuring everyone has the right to a secure, decent home."
Richard Atkinson, president of the Law Society, warned: “The current Renters’ Rights Bill may lead to an increase in contested hearings, particularly as renters experience rising living costs and landlords deal with the laws changing.
“We call on the government to outline how it intends to manage this increase in demand on the courts during this period and to further invest in housing legal aid to create a level playing field for both renters and landlords. “
A spokesman for Barking and Dagenham Council said: “We know times our tough for many residents due to the cost-of-living crisis, and to help them through this we provide financial support through our Homes and Money Hub, as well as the opportunity of access to affordable housing through Reside.
"We also work closely with the private rented sector and recently expanded landlord licensing in the borough.”
In a statement, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “We have inherited a serious housing crisis which is why we are delivering seismic reforms alongside our mission to build 1.5 million new homes.
“Our Renters’ Rights Bill will deliver a long overdue transformation of private renting by strengthening tenants’ rights and banning section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions.
“This will drive forward our Plan for Change and ensure that people can stay in their homes for longer, build lives in their communities, and avoid the risk of homelessness.”
