The latest Q4 2025 judgment statistics from Registry Trust show that hundreds of thousands of new County Court Judgments (CCJs) were added in England and Wales last year, highlighting ongoing financial strain for individuals and potential risks when landlords are conducting tenant credit checks.

In the final quarter of 2025, 295,490 new judgments were entered on the Registry Trust register across the UK and associated districts, while 288,538 new consumer and commercial judgments were recorded in England and Wales alone, representing a 9.4% increase on the same period in 2024. The quarterly figures remain above recent averages, with consumer judgments still elevated year-on-year. About 4.1 million consumer judgments remain unsatisfied (the debt has not been fully paid), with 39% relating to debts under £500 – and a significant proportion of these unpaid small sums appear on credit files.

What is a CCJ and why it matters for landlords

A CCJ is issued when a court rules that an individual has failed to repay a debt. Once it appears on a credit file, a CCJ can remain for up to six years and is visible during standard tenant referencing and credit checks. While not all CCJs are rent-related, they provide a snapshot of past financial difficulty and can influence a landlord’s assessment of a prospective tenant’s ability to afford rent and their reliability.

Judgments can arise from unpaid utilities, council tax, personal loans, or fines, and in the PRS, landlords can bring a money claim in the County Court for rent arrears or damages which might result in a CCJ.  During a possession claim, landlords can ask for a money judgment for the rent arrears which, if the tenant does not pay, can become a CCJ.

Trends in judgment data

The Q4 2025 Registry Trust data reveals that:

• Consumer judgments (against individuals) in England and Wales numbered 252,753, slightly above recent averages and significantly up year-on-year

• Commercial judgments (against companies) also rose compared with Q4 2024, with 35,785 new cases recorded in England and Wales

• Unsatisfied judgments dominate the register, with millions still unsettled and a high share for smaller debt amounts.

Rent arrears and court activity

Although there are no figures detailing rent-related CCJs, broader court data highlights continuing activity in landlord-tenant dispute channels. Official Ministry of Justice statistics show that while some measures of possession claims have fluctuated in 2025, repossession actions - which can lead to judgments when tenants fall into arrears - have risen, indicating that defaults are still progressing through legal routes.

Quarterly data for Q4 2025 showed that while landlord possession claims, orders, and warrants were slightly lower than the previous year, repossessions rose by about 3%, suggesting a rising incidence of cases reaching final stages.

Legal reforms could influence judgment trends

The Renters’ Rights Act will abolish Section 21 ‘no-fault’ eviction notices. Under the reformed regime, landlords must rely  on statutory grounds such as rent arrears, to regain possession. Legal commentators warn that this could result in more disputes progressing through the courts, and potentially a rise in associated judgments, including those that affect tenant credit profiles.

What landlords should consider

When conducting tenant referencing for someone who has a CCJ against them, experts suggest landlords focus on:

• When the CCJ was recorded - older or satisfied judgments tend to carry less risk

• The value and context of the CCJ - small-value judgments for non-rental debt may look very different to larger rent arrears

• Regional and sector patterns - some areas report consistently higher judgment volumes than others

These factors can help landlords interpret CCJs more meaningfully rather than using them as blunt exclusion criteria.

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Paul Shamplina, founder of Landlord Action, says CCJs can be a useful indicator for landlords when assessing risk, but they should always be viewed in context.

“Not every CCJ is linked to rent arrears, but it shows a debt reached the point of court action. Landlords should consider when it was recorded, whether it’s been satisfied, and the size and circumstances of the debt - historic or small paid judgments carry less risk than recent unsatisfied ones.

Historically, Section 21 allowed landlords to regain possession quickly, often accepting lost rent. Under Section 8 and the Renters’ Rights Act reforms - raising arrears thresholds and extending notice periods - landlords may face up to a year of unpaid rent before regaining possession. More landlords are likely to pursue unpaid rent through the courts, increasing CCJs linked to rent arrears on tenant files.”

Bottom line

The latest Registry Trust statistics underline that CCJs remain a significant presence on credit files in England and Wales. While they don’t always signal rent-related issues, the sheer volume of judgments, and the number that remain unsatisfied, means landlords are increasingly likely to encounter them during tenant checks.

Interpreting credit profiles with context and caution will be increasingly important in the private rented sector.

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