According to a recent survey, over a third of landlords are considering selling their properties, largely due to uncertainty surrounding the Renters’ Rights Bill. Here is a summary of the key findings from the survey:

Survey Highlights

• Landlords Exiting: 39% of landlords surveyed by Simply Business are considering selling their properties within the next year.
• Top Concerns: The primary reason for this uncertainty is the Renters’ Rights Bill, which is the biggest worry for 26% of landlords. They also cited tighter EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) regulations and the government’s Making Tax Digital scheme as contributing factors.
• “No-Fault” Evictions: The most controversial change, the abolition of Section 21 “no-fault” evictions, is a key concern for 38% of landlords. However, the survey found that most landlords maintain stable tenancies, with 71% never having used a Section 21 notice and 97% having tenants for more than a year.
• Rent Increases: Only 8% of landlords listed restrictions on rent rises as a priority issue, with more than half saying they have not increased rents in the past year.
• New Regulations: A majority of landlords (76%) fear the new regulations will not improve standards as the government hopes. The majority also feel unprepared for the upcoming Making Tax Digital scheme (68%) and many are unsure how to meet the new EPC requirements (21%).