A new Total Property survey has revealed growing concerns in the private rented sector (PRS), with landlords, tenants, and agents all under pressure from rising costs and legislative changes.

Key Findings:

• 67% of landlords believe the PRS has worsened.
• 49% plan to leave the sector within five years, reducing the supply of rental homes.
• Just 3% of landlords have entered the market recently, compared to 75% who have been operating for over a decade.

Why Landlords Are Leaving:

• 29%: Abolition of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions.
• 24%: Concerns over the Renters’ Rights Bill.
• 33%: Compliance burdens.
• 19%: Rising costs.
• 15%: Tax changes.

Eddie Hooker, CEO of Total Property, warns:

“The PRS is undergoing one of the most significant periods of change in decades, with rising costs, increasing regulation, and shifting tenant expectations. Without urgent action, we risk a crisis where tenants have nowhere to rent at an affordable price.”

Impact on Tenants:

• 88% cite rising rents as their biggest concern.
• 49% struggle due to a lack of available properties.
• Despite challenges, 64% feel secure in their current homes.
• Only 6% consider the right to request a pet the most important provision in the Renters’ Rights Bill.

Letting Agents Also Feeling the Strain:

• 76% struggle with compliance burdens.
• 61% report a shortage of rental properties.
• 73.5% feel less supported by the government.

What’s Next for the PRS?

With landlords leaving the market, fewer new investors, and tenants struggling with affordability, the rental sector faces an uncertain future. Hooker stresses that regulation must support both landlords and tenants to maintain a sustainable rental market.