More than 500 rental properties are leaving the private rented sector daily, according to new analysis from property data firm TwentyEA. The firm estimates that 505 rental homes per day have exited the sector across the UK so far in 2026.
This rate is more than three times the level recorded in 2020. TwentyEA also estimates that 834,800 properties have left the private rented sector since the start of the decade, representing a loss of 18.6% of national rental stock.
Landlord sales remain high despite the first phase of the Renters’ Rights Act taking effect on 1 May. The Act abolished Section 21 evictions and introduced a new tenancy system, among other changes. However, TwentyEA points to various pressures on landlord returns, including taxation, mortgage costs, regulation, and forthcoming energy-efficiency requirements, rather than directly attributing sales to the Act.
Further regulatory changes are planned, including the regional rollout of a mandatory Private Rented Sector Database from late 2026, requiring landlords to register and pay an annual fee. From April 2027, landlords will face separate property income tax rates of 22%, 42%, and 47%. Additionally, privately rented homes will need to meet higher energy-efficiency standards by 1 October 2030, potentially requiring landlords to spend up to £10,000 per property on improvements.