Nearly 850,000 homes have left the UK’s private rented sector over the past decade, equating to around one in every six rental properties, according to new research from property consultancy TwentyEA.
The report suggests that the pace of landlord sales accelerated as the Renters’ Rights Act approached implementation. Although the legislation became law last year, most of its provisions came into effect in May 2026. The highest number of former rental properties sold was recorded in 2025, with almost 181,000 homes leaving the sector.
Despite the continued departure of private landlords, the overall supply of rental homes has increased. TwentyEA reports that rental stock has risen by more than 17% in 2026 compared with the previous year, reaching its highest level in seven years.
A key factor behind this growth has been the expansion of the Build to Rent sector. During the second quarter of 2026, listings for Build to Rent properties were 22% higher than in the same period last year, helping to offset some of the homes being lost from the traditional private rented sector.
Nick Huntley, Director at TwentyEA, said that while higher rental supply is a positive development, it does not fully reflect the pressures faced by many letting agents.
He explained that many agents continue to see fewer privately owned rental properties coming to market as landlords leave the sector. Although purpose-built rental developments are adding much-needed homes, they are intended to complement, rather than replace, the role of private landlords. Huntley added that a healthy rental market depends on growth across both parts of the sector.
As part of its analysis, TwentyEA also reviewed rental asking prices to assess how the Renters’ Rights Act may be influencing the market two months after its introduction.
The findings showed that rental price movements varied considerably across the UK. Wales recorded the strongest annual growth in asking rents, followed by the West Midlands and East Midlands. In contrast, the East of England experienced the largest year-on-year decline, with Yorkshire and the Humber also seeing notable falls.
According to TwentyEA, these regional differences reflect the competing pressures created by the new legislation. Measures such as restrictions on rent increases and the ban on rental bidding could help limit rental inflation, while higher compliance costs and tighter regulations may encourage some landlords to increase initial asking rents.
| Region | Year-on-Year Change |
| Scotland | 1.9% |
| North East | -1.6% |
| North West | -2.4% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | -4.0% |
| East Midlands | 4.3% |
| West Midlands | 6.8% |
| Wales | 13.9% |
| East of England | -7.7% |
| Outer London | -2.3% |
| Inner London | 0.4% |
| South East | 1.0% |
| South West | -0.4% |
Source: TwentyEA
Download NOW
4 Simple Steps To Becoming Wealthy Through Property