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14/7/25 8:13 pm
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Landlord Action has reported its busiest month in more than two years, with instructions from landlords to serve eviction notices up 62% year-on-year in September.
The surge coincided with growing momentum behind the Renters’ Rights Act and increasing certainty that Section 21 would be phased out. Landlord Action recorded significant growth in both Section 21 notices and combined Section 21 and Section 8 instructions, which founder Paul Shamplina believes reflects both landlords’ uncertainty about the new legal landscape and a desire to act before the possession process changes.
“Now that implementation is certain, many have been taking action to regain control before the new regime takes effect,” he explains. “For some, that means serving notice on properties they want to sell, or where there are arrears or ongoing issues, while they still can.
“From 1st May 2026, new tenancies will come under the reformed Section 8 system, and the use of Section 21 will begin to phase out as existing tenancies transition. This is a monumental change, and landlords are understandably nervous.”
Shamplina also points to broader market pressures, with more landlords deciding to sell or reduce their portfolios as regulation tightens and mortgage costs remain high. “We are seeing more landlords re-evaluating their position,” he adds. “For some, these changes are the final push to exit the sector altogether, especially where yields have been squeezed.”
He believes the court system is nowhere near ready for the transition away from Section 21 and Ministry of Justice’s Q3 landlord possession statistics reflect this; the average time from claim to repossession has risen to 27.4 weeks, up from 24.4 weeks last year, highlighting the continuing strain on the courts.
“Confidence in the court system is at an all-time low, and that is a real concern as we transition away from Section 21.”
Landlord Action expects this surge in instructions to continue in the next six months, but for activity to stabilise and settle into a new norm once the new timeframes and processes are fully in place.
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