Poor communication is the most common underlying reason for disputes, according to the Property Ombudsman's 2025 annual review. The Ombudsman noted that failures to provide clear information or respond promptly often led to disputes escalating unnecessarily.
The review recorded 23,987 calls and email enquiries and 7,681 resolved disputes in 2025. An article by Adam Hills, client services director at LRG Living Markets, highlights how fragmented communication can lead to delays in repairs or properties remaining empty longer than needed.
The MHCLG's 2024 English Private Landlord Survey found that landlords with five or more properties, while only 17% of all landlords, owned homes associated with almost half (49%) of private tenancies. Agent use also increased with portfolio size, with 63% of landlords with at least five properties using an agent for letting services, compared to 30% of single-property landlords.
The MHCLG Private rented sector tenants research report, which surveyed 1,517 private renters in England, indicated that 77% reported at least one issue with their current property, and satisfaction with how issues were resolved was generally low.