Landlords are increasingly using quick sale platforms to exit the private rented sector as regulatory changes reshape the market.
New data from House Buyer Bureau shows landlord-owned properties accounted for 21% of all quick sale transactions in the first quarter of 2026.
The trend has been building steadily, with landlords making up more than one in five quick sale transactions across 2024 and 2025, up from 19% in 2023 and 18% in 2022.
The shift comes ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 coming into force on 1 May, which introduces sweeping changes to tenancy law and landlord obligations.
VIABLE MARKET
Key reforms include the abolition of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, the end of assured shorthold tenancies and tighter controls on rent increases, alongside stronger tenant protections.
Combined with higher mortgage costs, tax changes and rising compliance requirements, the changes are prompting some landlords to reassess the viability of remaining in the sector.
Quick sale platforms are emerging as a preferred route for those seeking a faster and more certain exit, offering shorter transaction times and reduced exposure to fall-through risk compared to the open market.
The model is particularly appealing for landlords with smaller portfolios or tighter margins, where the impact of regulatory and financial pressures is more acute.
STRATEGIC SHIFT
Chris Hodgkinson (main picture, inset), Managing Director at House Buyer Bureau, says: “Talk of the Renters’ Rights Act leading to a widespread landlord exodus risks oversimplifying what is actually a more gradual and strategic shift.
“What we’re seeing is a growing number opting for certainty and control, particularly those with smaller portfolios or tighter margins.”
He added that as the new legislation takes effect, more landlords are likely to consider quick sale options as a way to exit the market on their own terms.
