Letting agents have warned that the Renters’ Rights Bill could gut the private rental sector of one- and two-property landlords.
Britain’s landlords are quitting the market in droves, according to a shock new survey, with one in three agents (34%) reporting a surge in independent landlords selling up.
Software provider Alto’s poll of 250 agents reveals that a staggering 93% were concerned about losing their independent landlord clients altogether, while 70% said at least some had already sold off properties in the past year.
For smaller landlords who own just one or two properties - often inherited or bought as retirement nest eggs - a fresh wave of red tape and uncertainty is simply too much. Letting agents report that they are being squeezed from every side, by rising mortgage rates, stricter energy rules, new tenant rights legislation, and a growing sense they’re being vilified.
“Independent landlords are the lifeblood of the sector,” says CEO Riccardo Iannucci-Dawson (pictured). “If we lose them, tenants lose choice and stability - and we risk pushing rents even higher.”
Alto is urging the government to offer clearer guidance as it says letting agents are increasingly being called on to not just market homes but manage reform. Without the right tools and support, many fear the sector could buckle under the weight of change.
“Letting agents are facing unprecedented pressure - from legislative upheaval to operational chaos,” Iannucci-Dawson adds.
Its products are designed to reduce admin, cut risk, and give agents the confidence to navigate reform without losing landlords or lettings income.
“At Alto, we’re not just flagging the challenges of reform, we’re building tools to help agents meet them head-on. From automating Right to Rent checks and periodic tenancy creation to enforcing rent review limits and managing tenant requests more transparently, we’re making compliance faster, easier, and more robust.”
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