One in four landlords reject tenants they would previously accept
Summary
Early findings from Goodlord’s State of the Industry Report suggest landlords and letting agents are becoming more selective about tenant applications following the Renters’ Rights Act. The article says this is linked to changes including the end of Section 21, restrictions on rent in advance and the ban on over-bidding, with some landlords preferring to leave properties vacant rather than accept higher-risk applicants.
Why it matters
This is relevant to surveyors because shifts in landlord behaviour can affect rental market liquidity, tenant demand and investment appetite, all of which influence residential property values and lettings conditions. It also highlights potential unintended market effects from recent rental reform that may be reflected in local market evidence.
Key points
- 26% of landlords say they are more likely to reject applicants they would previously have accepted.
- 51% of agents are more cautious when recommending tenants than last year.
- 31% of landlords would rather keep a property vacant than accept a higher-risk applicant.
- The article links the change in behaviour to the Renters’ Rights Act, including the end of Section 21 and limits on rent in advance.
- Goodlord reports landlords remain pessimistic overall, though less so than last year.
This is an RPSA summary of a publicly available article. The full content remains with the original publisher.
