The rental market is going through a major period of change, and it’s perhaps no surprise that some landlords are taking a moment to consider what's next.
We recently asked 668 landlords in England how confident they feel in the rental market and found that 78% have no confidence following the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act in May 2026.
36% of landlords surveyed said they are currently reducing the size of their portfolios, while 27% said they are considering leaving the rental market altogether. But the picture varies considerably depending on the size of a landlord’s portfolio.
Among landlords with just one rental property, 44% said they are leaving the rental market altogether. By comparison, 22% of landlords with five or more properties said they are doing the same.
The difference is even clearer when it comes to reducing portfolios. More than half (53%) of landlords with five or more properties said they are reducing their portfolios, suggesting that larger landlords may be more likely to adjust the size of their investments rather than walk away completely.
For landlords with one to four properties, 31% said they are leaving the market, while 27% are reducing their portfolios.
A period of adjustment
The figures come at a time when landlords and tenants are getting used to a significantly different rental market.
The Renters’ Rights Act introduced major changes intended to make renting more secure. At the same time, rents have reached record highs in many parts of the UK, while rental supply has fallen.
A single-property landlord may have less flexibility to absorb changing regulations or adapt their investment strategy than someone with a larger portfolio, so leaving the market may feel like a more straightforward option. Larger landlords, meanwhile, appear more likely to adjust the size of their portfolios rather than exit completely.
There is also a possibility that the current pressures will begin to ease as landlords become more confident with the new rules.
The new rules are still relatively fresh, so some landlords may be reassessing their options or waiting to see how the market develops before making longer-term decisions.