Accelerating numbers of landlords selling up has been putting more tenants ‘at risk of being made homeless’, the NRLA has warned.

Households in the PRS threatened with homelessness due to a landlord exodus has increased by almost a fifth since the end of last year. And NRLA says its analysis highlights the need to encourage responsible landlords to stay in the market.

Number increased

According to government data, between October and December 2024 almost 5,500 private sector rental households in England qualified for council support to prevent homelessness after their landlord decided to sell the property.

The most recent data shows that, between January and March this year, the number had increased 19% to just over 6,500 households, NRLA says.

The figures reveal how selling a property is the single biggest reason for a landlord to end a tenancy, and almost three times the next most common reason.

Landlords selling homes is disastrous for tenants”

Ben Beadle, CEO at the NRLA, says: “For millions of renters across the country, whether a landlord sells a property or not will decide the fate of where they live.

“Landlords selling homes is disastrous for tenants. Even if properties sold end up back in the rental market, that’s scant comfort for those who have been forced to move as a result,” he says.

“In the Autumn Budget the Chancellor needs to support responsible private landlords to invest in new decent quality, long term homes to rent that tenants desperately need.”

High demand

Recent research from Savills revealed that buy-to-let properties were being sold five times faster than investor purchases.

Savills found a major exodus of rental homes at a time when demand was very high and rents still rising.

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