As Peers prepare to debate the Renters (Reform) Bill, new government data reveals that landlords selling their properties is the primary reason renters face eviction, posing a significant threat to housing stability.
According to the data, 45% of households seeking council support to prevent homelessness were affected by landlords planning to sell their properties in the latter half of 2023.
This issue is more than twice as prevalent as the next leading cause of tenancy terminations, which involves landlords re-letting their properties.
This alarming trend underscores concerns raised by Generation Rent about the direct link between landlords selling off their properties and increasing homelessness rates.
Meanwhile, a survey conducted by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) found that while 83% of landlords report strong demand for rental properties, 31% plan to reduce their rental offerings, contrasting sharply with only 9% who intend to expand them.
This reduction in supply is critical, with Rightmove data suggesting that an additional 50,000 properties are needed to restore rental home availability to pre-pandemic levels.
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA, emphasised the challenges this poses to renters, stating: “Landlords selling up is the single biggest challenge renters face. The only answer is to ensure responsible landlords have the confidence to stay in the market and sustain tenancies.”
With the Renters (Reform) Bill under discussion, Beadle urged Peers to support legislation that balances the needs of both landlords and tenants, providing the sector with much-needed certainty about its future.
He also called for broader policy measures to enhance the supply of rental properties, highlighting a widespread consensus on the need for such policies.
