Flow of fresh homes to rent ‘shrinks at fastest rate since 2020’

August 14, 2025
to let sign 2025

New figures from the Royal Institution of Surveyors (RICS) shows that the flow of fresh rental properties coming to market has fallen at its fastest rate in five years.

RICS reported that 31% of professionals saw new instructions from landlords falling rather than rising, which was the weakest reading since April 2020.

David Smith, Property Litigation Partner at London law firm Spector Constant & Williams said:

“This is entirely unsurprising given the ongoing level of uncertainty in the sector. Landlords have been slowly exiting the sector since 2019, the pace is increasing due to the effects of the Renters’ Rights Bill and the unwillingness of the government to listen to reasonable alterations to their bill, the ongoing failure to make real improvements in the court system, and the increasing weight of regulation on smaller landlords.

Coupled with concerns over the future financial position for landlords it is hardly surprising that there is little appetite to enter the sector and increased departure. However, the government is in the position of being able to make measurable improvements very quickly. It could accept House of Lords amendments to the Renters’ Rights Bill, be clearer about its future tax plans, and work more closely with the sector to make it a more attractive investment proposition.”

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