NRLA urges government to take steps to retain responsible landlords in the market
The number of households in England’s private rented sector at risk of homelessness due to landlords selling their properties has risen by a third since the end of 2023, according to new data.
Figures from the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) reveal that 7,130 households qualified for council support to prevent homelessness between April and June 2024, compared to 5,400 households in the final quarter of last year.
The analysis highlights the growing impact of landlords exiting the market, with property sales now the most common reason for tenancy terminations — three times higher than the next leading cause.
The NRLA is urging the government to take steps to retain responsible landlords in the rental market. While the Renters’ Rights Bill proposes extending the notice period before landlords can sell, the association says this alone will not address the underlying issue of limited rental housing supply.
Government data indicates a concerning trend, with 31% of landlords planning to sell properties in the next two years, up from 22% previously. By contrast, just 7% of landlords intend to invest in new rental properties, down from 11% in 2021. This imbalance, the NRLA pointed out, is exacerbating competition among tenants, with an average of 21 people now vying for each available rental home.
The NRLA has called for tax reforms to incentivise landlords to maintain and expand the supply of quality rental homes. The organisation also emphasises the need to streamline the court system to ensure legitimate repossession cases can be resolved more quickly.
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA, warned that current market dynamics are harming tenants as landlords increasingly sell off properties.
“Right across the country, it is tenants who are suffering as landlords decide to sell up,” Beadle said. “No amount of changing the rules about when landlords can sell will address the central problem in the rental market, namely a chronic shortage of homes to meet demand.
“What tenants need is greater choice. That means encouraging and supporting the vast majority of responsible landlords to stay and continue to provide decent quality housing.”
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