Landlords eye portfolio cuts amidst Renters’ Rights Bill impact

Landlords eye portfolio cuts amidst Renters’ Rights Bill impact

0:02 AM, 7th February 2025, About 5 days ago 3

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The third survey this week is highlighting that landlords are planning to sell properties this year with the latest one revealing that one in five landlords in England are looking to do so.

The findings come from Octane Capital which says that the landlords are looking to sell because of the forthcoming Renters’ Rights Bill.

Despite this, the firm says, most investors remain committed to buy to let, with 90% having maintained stable portfolio sizes over the past year.

Only 7% of landlords have reduced their holdings.

It also says that the narrative of a landlord exodus has been ‘exaggerated’.

‘More could choose to exit during 2025’

Octane’s chief executive, Jonathan Samuels, said: “It’s fair to say that the landlord exodus that has been so widely talked about in recent years has been largely over exaggerated and the vast majority of buy to let investors still view the private rental market as a worthwhile endeavour.

“However, there’s no doubt that the government’s consistent campaign to deter landlords from the sector by way of legislative changes has had an impact and, in a market that is already drastically undersupplied, we simply can’t afford to drive away investors.”

He added: “Unfortunately, it looks as though more could choose to exit during 2025 and the key reason for this decision is the Renters’ Rights Bill.

“Whilst any improvements to tenant welfare are, of course, positive, the concern is that landlords have been largely ignored with respect to the intended changes.

“In doing so, the government is likely to exacerbate the current rental crisis as without the vital supply of rental properties reaching the market, tenants will be worse off than they may be now.”

Landlords plan to downsize

The survey shows that 21% of landlords plan to downsize this year, while 75% intend to remain in the PRS and 4% may expand.

The Renters’ Rights Bill is the primary driver for those considering selling properties, followed by the installation of a Labour government and the landlord approaching retirement.

Landlords cite the removal of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions as the biggest challenge presented by the Bill.

Restrictions on not accepting tenants receiving benefits or with children, alongside the end of short-hold tenancies, also raise landlord concerns.

If you would like to discuss quickly selling your rental property with experts, contact Landlord Sales Agency:

Contact Landlord Sales Agency


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Jo Westlake

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11:48 AM, 7th February 2025, About 4 days ago

I wasn't especially planning to sell anything but the RRB keeps getting more one sided, so now I have decided to put one on the market within the next few weeks. The tenant unexpectedly gave notice, so it just seems like the sensible course of action. It's in a seaside town, so especially vulnerable to tenants doing the two month tenancy trick. I'm a long term landlord and have no desire to enter the short term market.

Another tenant is moving out next month and I re- let that one last night to someone I have known for about 20 years. The main reasons for not selling that one right now are the mortgage early repayment penalty and that it is very close to my house, so easier to maintain. The new tenant is hoping to buy somewhere in 2 years time, which ties in with my current mortgage fix, so it's highly likely I will sell it when he goes. Unless the government has a major rethink on how they are treating the PRS. Currently there is very little reason to stay in the industry and absolutely no incentive for new landlords to enter.

Nancy Swinkels

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16:05 PM, 8th February 2025, About 3 days ago

I’ve been a private investor for fifty years, providing safe housing and reasonably low rents. The last few years, renters have run a brothel, run a cannabis grow house and are generally leaving the properties so dirty that a substantial scrub down is needed. The last cleanup took five weeks and cost thousands. There is a shift towards tenant protection that seems to make them feel powerful and leading to deplorable behavior, not paying rent and destroying my investment. This attitude is pushing small investors out of rentals at a time when rentals are needed badly due to immigration. The more you tighten the rules on property owners, the less rentals will be available. It’s just not worth all the headaches. I am one of the “ good and fair” landlords, and I’ve had enough.

GlanACC

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21:28 PM, 8th February 2025, About 3 days ago

Its not the RRB that bothers me, the bigger impact is the EPC rating and likely £15k cap on costs (although there is the possibility of a lower cap for lower council tax bands) .

I think this is the real killer - as I have previously owned 18 properties and 14 of them were D / E rated, this would be the killer blow.

Luckily I sold 12 and of the remaining 6, 2 are C - 1 is D and the remaining 3 have just been upgraded using the ECO4 scheme although strangely the the company doing it had not redone the EPC, so I am hoping when it is redone it will be a C.

I would advise any landlord that if any tenants are receiving benefits they are likely to be eligible for the ECO4 scheme, also eligible if the household income is less than £31,000.

One of my tenants only received 69 PENCE a week benefits and she was eligible so I got loft insulation and solar panels for nowt.

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