Landlords must be encouraged to stay on the market or more vulnerable tenants will become homeless as properties are sold to first-time buyers, landlord leaders have warned.
NRLA's Ben Beadle also supports tax reform to encourage landlord ownership, as new official figures show the number of people losing their homes when they are sold. 
From October to December 2023, around 5,400 households in England's private rented sector became eligible for council support to prevent homelessness, particularly because their landlords had decided to sell their properties.
However, between April and June 2024, this number increased to 7,130 households, according to the latest data.
Tenants who are struggling as landlords decide to sell. ”
The figures show that selling the property is the number one reason landlords end a tenancy, almost three times as often as the next most popular reason.
The Renters' Rights Bill would extend the time landlords can sell their properties, but the NRLA needs to take further steps to encourage responsible landlords to keep their rental properties in the first place. claims.
The data also shows that a third (31%) of landlords plan to sell their rental properties in the next two years, up from 22%. In contrast, only 7% said they plan to offer new rental housing in the next two years, compared to 11% in 2021.
This is because an average of 21 people are chasing every home available to rent.
NRLA is calling on the government to reform the way rental housing is taxed to support and encourage the supply of decent quality new housing on the market.
clear plan
In addition to this, responsible landlords need confidence that once “no-fault” foreclosures end, lawful possession cases will be handled by the courts much more quickly than they currently are, NRLA says. states.
That's why the NRLA is calling on the government to recognize what Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has described as a court system that has “gone to its knees” and to announce a clear plan to improve it.
“Across the country, tenants are the ones who suffer as landlords decide to sell. No matter how much we change the rules about when landlords can sell, the core of the rental market is a chronic lack of housing to meet demand. NRLA chief executive Ben Beadle (main image) said.
“What tenants need is greater choice, and that means encouraging and supporting the majority of responsible landlords to stay and continue to provide decent quality housing.”
Polly Neate, Shelter's gregarious CEO, struck a different tone. “Across England, exorbitant private rents combined with a severe shortage of genuinely affordable social housing are causing more and more people to become homeless.”
