Landlords sell up in even greater numbers – shocking new statistics 

The number of properties sold by landlords is rising sharply, with 15.6% of new instructions in Q1 2025 being former rental homes, up from 9.8% in Q1 2024. This equates to 70,542 properties out of 451,154 new instructions. Only 2.9% of sold properties were re-let in Q1 2025, suggesting most were not purchased by other landlords. Around 18,000 homes have likely exited the rental market since Q4 2024, worsening the supply crisis.

The supply of new rental properties fell by 1% compared to Q1 2024 and is now 22% lower than pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The total number of available rental homes has dropped to 284,000, with nearly half priced above £1,500 per month and 15% exceeding £3,000, making them unaffordable for many tenants. Average rents have reached £1,767 per month.

Katy Billany of TwentyEA highlights that landlords are leaving the sector, and few properties are being reintroduced to the rental market. She notes that the rental market is under strain, with supply constraints and rising costs expected to persist.