Landlord concerns over the Renters’ Rights Act have eased since its introduction despite more than six in 10 experiencing problems implementing the reforms, new research reveals.
Some 69% of landlords now believe the legislation will negatively affect their own lettings activity, down from 76% before the reforms came into force, according to Paragon Bank’s latest Landlord Trends research.
The findings suggest apprehension surrounding the biggest overhaul of England’s private rented sector in decades has moderated as landlords gain experience of operating under the new regime.
But implementation has not been trouble-free, with more than 60% reporting challenges including additional administration, uncertainty around notice requirements and concerns over possession.
LANDLORD ACTIVITY
The reforms came into force on 1 May, abolishing Section 21 evictions and moving most private tenancies onto a periodic basis.
Despite concerns that the changes could prompt landlords to withdraw or affect appetite for buy-to-let finance, Mortgage Advice Bureau says it arranged 6,790 buy-to-let mortgages worth more than £1bn between May and August.
Volumes were slightly lower than during the same period last year, but Paragon says it has not changed its approach to underwriting buy-to-let mortgages as a result of the Act.
The lender says continued demand for rental property and the ability of portfolio landlords to absorb void periods across multiple properties have helped limit the impact of the tenancy changes on lending decisions.
PRACTICAL CHALLENGES
Louisa Sedgwick (main picture, left), Managing Director – Mortgages at Paragon Bank, and Rachel Geddes (main picture, right), Strategic Lender Relationship Director at Mortgage Advice Bureau, say conversations are increasingly moving away from understanding the legislation towards how landlords operate under it.
Geddes says: “Four months on, the conversations we’re having with landlords have shifted – it’s less ‘what does the Act actually say’ and more ‘what does this mean for how I run things going forward?’.
“Increased administration and the new notice requirements are the practical, day-to-day frustrations landlords are telling us about, but the bigger conversation is usually about the whole portfolio: is the current structure still right, does financing need to work harder, and where does this fit into their plans for the next few years?”
BUY-TO-LET RESILIENCE
Separate industry figures provide further evidence that the buy-to-let market entered the reforms in relatively resilient shape.
UK Finance recorded 58,272 new buy-to-let loans worth £10.8bn during the first quarter of 2026, up 3.3% by number and 7% by value compared with a year earlier.
More recent figures show 8,390 buy-to-let mortgages were in arrears of at least 2.5% of their outstanding balance during the second quarter, down 6% from the previous three months.
Geddes adds: “The landlords who are adapting well tend to be the ones who saw this as a moment to review their whole approach, not just react to one piece of legislation.
“That’s where advice earns its keep, helping landlords step back from the immediate admin and look at the bigger picture.”
