Propertymark has issued guidance for agents handling the sale of former rental properties and tenanted homes under the Renters Rights Act. It highlights the use of mandatory possession Ground 1A for genuine sales, the 12-month restriction on serving notice for new tenancies, and the need to avoid implying that vacant possession is guaranteed.
Rightmove data indicates that rental supply fell below the previous year’s level in Q2 2026 for the first time in four years, with the total number of homes to rent now 1% lower year on year. The article links the shift to the implementation of the Renters Rights Act, while noting that tenant competition has eased from recent peaks and regional rental conditions remain uneven.
New data from the NRLA indicates that councils in England have increased property inspections under the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System, but are collecting only around a quarter of the fines issued to landlords for housing offences. The article also notes calls for greater transparency, including annual council reporting on private rented sector enforcement activity.
The article reports expectations of tougher enforcement against rogue landlords in the second half of 2026, driven by the Renters Rights Act and higher fines, alongside increased local authority enforcement funding. It also suggests contested evictions may take longer to resolve through the courts, adding pressure to the possession process.
TwentyEA’s latest analysis says Build To Rent homes continue to achieve a rental premium over mainstream private rented properties across most regions. The report also argues that while traditional buy-to-let stock has declined over the past decade, overall rental supply has risen, with Build To Rent helping to offset losses in conventional landlord-owned stock.
TwentyEA reports that around 850,000 private rented sector properties have left the UK market over the past decade, with the largest volume of former rental homes sold in 2025. Despite this, overall rental supply has risen to a seven-year high, supported in part by growth in Build to Rent and increased listings in 2026.
The Housing Ombudsman is stepping down at the end of the month, with Andrea Keenoy appointed as interim caretaker while a permanent replacement is sought. The article notes speculation that the role may be expanded in future to cover the landlord service ombudsman function proposed under the Renters Rights Act.
The new First Minister of Wales has set out a legislative programme that prioritises stronger rights for private renters, including measures aimed at improving affordability and restricting no-fault evictions. The agenda also includes a Community Right to Buy scheme and rural proofing provisions as part of a wider housing policy package.
The article reports claims from Generation Rent that Section 21 evictions are disproportionately affecting black households and contributing to higher rates of homelessness and temporary accommodation. It also cites wider allegations of racial discrimination in the private rented sector and in rental application processes.
Brighton & Hove Council is expanding its selective licensing scheme from four wards to six this autumn, with a phased rollout expected to cover 13 wards in total. The council says the scheme is intended to improve property conditions and management in the private rented sector, with support offered to landlords and agents and an estimated 7,274 properties requiring licences.
The article reports criticism from a Labour councillor who describes HMOs as a source of investor profit supported by public spending, particularly through temporary accommodation demand. It also notes that several councils, including Labour and Reform UK-led authorities, are considering or implementing tighter controls on HMOs through Article 4 directions, licensing, and related planning measures.
Hamptons data suggests landlord exits from the private rented sector are most concentrated in London and the South of England, where higher prices, lower yields and mortgage costs are squeezing returns. The article also notes that the Renters Rights Act and a 12-month re-letting ban may be influencing sales decisions, although tax changes and borrowing costs are presented as the larger long-term drivers.
