One in four landlords say they have struggled to regain possession of their properties from problem tenants, according to a Goodlord survey of almost 250 landlords.
The survey found that 25% of landlords had experienced difficulties securing possession since the abolition of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions under the Renters’ Rights Act on 1 May.
Landlords must now rely on Section 8 and prove one of the specified grounds when seeking to regain possession.
Landlords Tighten Tenant Checks
With possession becoming more difficult, landlords are taking greater care when selecting tenants. Goodlord found that 39% have introduced more cautious tenant screening, while 9% are putting more effort into retaining existing tenants and reducing turnover.
Goodlord’s Director of Referencing, Nishma Parekh, said thorough tenant checks have become increasingly important as removing a problem tenant can take longer and cost more.
This is particularly significant given that separate Goodlord research estimates tenancy fraud costs the private rented sector around £4.1 billion each year. Between July 2025 and June 2026, 41 out of every 1,000 tenancy applications were flagged for suspected fraud.
Possession Delays Add Pressure
Landlords seeking possession because of rent arrears must now wait four weeks after serving a Section 8 notice before starting court proceedings. Court delays can extend the process even further.
The added requirements are also increasing costs for landlords. Half of those surveyed said the Renters’ Rights Act had increased their compliance workload, while 29% reported higher compliance and insurance costs.
Since the changes came into force, 23% also said letting agent fees had increased, while 10% had experienced longer void periods between tenancies.
Goodlord also surveyed more than 2,000 tenants. Only 5% said they had been served with, or threatened with, a ‘Section 21-style’ eviction since the ban.
Overall, the findings suggest most landlords are following the new rules, but the longer possession process is making careful tenant selection and thorough referencing more important than ever.
Download NOW
4 Simple Steps To Becoming Wealthy Through Property