A growing exodus of private landlords from the rental market is being met with apparent indifference by the Government, despite mounting evidence that its own policies are driving the crisis.
Letting agents across the UK are sounding the alarm, warning that small-scale landlords—once the backbone of the private rented sector (PRS)—are leaving in droves. According to a new industry survey conducted by property software firm Alto, more than a third of letting agents (34%) have seen a surge in landlords selling up and walking away from the market.
Worryingly, a staggering 93% of agents said they feared losing their independent landlord clients altogether, while nearly three-quarters (70%) reported that some of their clients had already sold off properties in the past 12 months.
Yet, despite the mounting concerns, the Government has remained silent on the issue—ignoring repeated warnings from both the industry and housing campaigners that its current approach is pushing rental supply to the brink.
The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) recently issued a stark warning: the accelerating rate of landlord departures is placing thousands of tenants at greater risk of homelessness. Official figures already show a near 20% rise in households threatened with homelessness due to landlords pulling out of the market since the end of last year.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has echoed the concerns, with its latest UK Residential Survey showing a continued decline in landlord instructions. The net balance reading dropped to -21%, further highlighting the squeeze on rental supply.
Industry experts say tax changes, increasingly burdensome regulations, and uncertainty over proposed reforms—such as the scrapping of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions—are making the sector unviable for smaller landlords. But instead of engaging with the evidence, ministers appear to be turning a deaf ear.
“Landlords aren’t leaving on a whim—they’re being pushed out,” said one letting agent. “This isn’t just about investors; this is about homes being removed from the rental market, with real consequences for tenants.”
As pressures mount and the supply of rental housing tightens, calls are growing for the Government to acknowledge the data and rethink its approach. For now, though, the silence from Westminster speaks volumes.