A new survey pours cold water on the claim that landlords are abandoning the private rental sector in droves.
The press loves a dramatic headline, don’t they?
Back in December, one national newspaper ran this thundering warning: ‘The devastating landlord exodus about to hit Britain.’
Other mainstream and specialist property news outlets followed suit, claiming that the private rental sector was facing Armageddon.
Landlords were set to exit the sector at a rapid rate because of increased regulation and rising costs, they said
Nine months on, have these predictions turned out to be on the money or a load of hot air?
According to a comprehensive new study, Letting in the Private Sector 2025, carried out by the TDS Charitable Foundation, it’s the latter.
The foundation surveyed 2,022 landlords in April 2025, asking a range of questions about affordability, tenant selection and business activity.
It found that in the past year, 63% of landlords sat tight, neither buying nor selling property, just carrying on with business as usual.
Meanwhile, 23% of landlords expanded their portfolio (this was up from 19% the previous year).
So, 86% of landlords either held or increased their portfolios – hardly an exodus then.
Why invest in property now?
Those landlords who had invested further in the market cited various motivations.
Some said it was because they wanted to supplement their income, others preferred property to other types of investments, found local market conditions favourable and/or wanted to bolster their pension.
Landlords who expanded their portfolios purchased an average of 2.5 properties each.
But let’s not kid ourselves, some landlords are getting out. Approximately 14% of landlords sold properties in the past year, which is roughly the same as the previous year.
Of those who did sell up, regulatory demands, tax and tenant behaviour were the top reasons.
On average, each landlord disposing of properties sold 2.3 properties.
Key takeaway
Look behind the clickbait headlines, and you’ll find that the rental market has proved to be incredibly resilient.
While there are undoubtedly challenges, with property prices and rents holding firm, and interest rates decreasing, many landlords see the benefits of playing the long game.
If you’re a landlord seeking advice about navigating the rental landscape, give us a call today.
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