Landlord possession claims, widely used as a proxy for Section 8 activity, are on course to increase by 6.1% this year, research suggests.
It comes as landlords adapt to life after the abolition of Section 21.
LegalforLandlords says 87 letting agent brands have signed up for Section 8 support in the previous eight weeks since the Renters’ Rights Act came into force.
The analysis also highlights that the role of letting agents is evolving, as demand grows for specialist Section 8 expertise to help landlords navigate the new legal regime and protect their investments.
Sim Sekhon, group chief executive at LegalforLandlords, says: “Section 21 has gone and Section 8 is now front and centre of the possession process. What we’re seeing is the market rapidly adapting to that reality.
NOT A SHORT-TERM SPIKE
“In the eight weeks since the Renters’ Rights Act came into force, we’ve welcomed 87 letting agent brands into Section 8 support and professional services partnerships. We don’t believe that’s a short-term spike. It’s a reflection of how quickly agents and landlords are recognising that the rules of the game have changed.
“This isn’t simply a compliance issue. It’s a landlord protection issue and, increasingly, a landlord retention issue for letting agents.”
When a tenancy breaks down, Sekhon adds that landlords don’t want uncertainty. They want clear guidance, the right evidence, the correct process and the confidence that everything has been handled properly. Getting a Section 8 claim wrong can be costly, particularly when possession cases can already take months to progress through the courts.
Sekhon says: “The opportunity for agents is significant. The most successful agents in this new environment won’t simply be those who find tenants. They will be the agents who can protect landlords when problems arise, through better advice, stronger partnerships and a clear understanding of the possession process.
“Section 8 is no longer just a notice. It has become a core part of landlord protection, and agents are putting the right support in place because they know the old market has gone.”
