Letting agents across the UK have expressed fears about landlords quitting in their droves ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act.
The June 2025 RICS UK Residential Survey reveals that landlord instructions are falling, registering a net balance reading of -21%, as offices around the country report concerns about supply in the private rental sector.
Stan Shaw (pictured), at Mervyn Smith & Co in Ham says the market remains inflated and competitive, but due to lack of supply rather than intrinsic strong demand.
“The pattern of landlords exiting the market continues with very few new investor buyers,” he adds.
David Boyden, at Colchester-based Boydens,“Landlords still remain cautious regarding the reforms, and we are seeing high levels of landlords exiting the market at the end of tenancy."
It’s a similar picture in Barnsley, explains Adam Parkinson, at Countrywide Surveyors, who says several long-time landlords have recently sold up, citing concerns with the legislation - particularly that they will struggle to evict unruly or unreliable tenants.
“Landlord flight” from the sector restricts availability agrees William Delaney (pictured), at Coopers of London, who adds that changes to possession grounds are another concern for his clients after the government refused to publish a justice impact test around the Renters’ Rights Bill.
He believes the county court system can currently barely cope, and adds: “When the bill becomes law, a likely consequence will be a breakdown of the court system.”
RICS reports that tenant demand was largely steady in June, posting a net balance of -2% (part of the non-seasonally adjusted monthly rental market dataset) while a net balance of +24% of agents expect rents to increase in the next three months compared to +43% last month.
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