"These numbers provide initial indications that the pace of the so-called 'landlord exodus' has started to ease, with the majority of landlords appearing to be in a holding pattern"
- Emily Popple - Goodlord
The rate at which landlords are leaving the UK private rented sector appears to be slowing, but new research from lettings technology platform Goodlord suggests the exodus is far from over.
A survey of more than 1,200 landlords found that 72% are currently in a holding pattern, neither selling stock nor purchasing new properties, as the market waits to see how the Renters' Rights Act plays out following its implementation on 1 May. Despite that apparent pause, almost one in four landlords (24%) are actively selling or looking to sell some or all of their portfolio.
Selling intent falls from autumn peak
The 24% figure marks a notable improvement on Goodlord's previous survey, conducted in September 2025, when 35% of landlords said they had sold or actively tried to sell part or all of their portfolio in the preceding 12 months.
That reduction in selling intent broadly aligns with the easing of rental inflation seen in recent months. According to the Goodlord Rental Index, year-on-year rental inflation stood at 2% in February 2026, down from 4% at the same point in 2025.
Data from property analytics firm TwentyCi adds further weight to the trend, showing a reduction in the number of former rental properties being listed for sale so far in 2026.
"These numbers provide initial indications that the pace of the so-called 'landlord exodus' has started to ease, with the majority of landlords appearing to be in a holding pattern," said Emily Popple, director of landlord experience at Goodlord. "Many will be waiting to see what the real-world implications of the Renters' Rights Act are, once it comes into force on May 1."
Expansion remains rare as imbalance persists
While the reduction in landlord exits is encouraging, the other side of the market tells a more subdued story. Just 4% of landlords say they are actively investing in new properties. Even accounting for the possibility that a smaller number of operators are acquiring larger portfolios, the gap between those selling and those buying points to a continued net reduction in landlord numbers across the private rented sector.
That imbalance matters because it sustains the supply constraints that have driven rental inflation in recent years. With new landlords entering the market at a fraction of the rate at which others are exiting, the structural pressure on rental supply is unlikely to ease quickly.
Long-term confidence remains fragile
The findings around long-term intentions are arguably the most troubling aspect of the research. Only 44% of landlords believe they will still be operating in the market by 2031, with some of that group expecting to hold a smaller portfolio than they do today.
A third of respondents (35%) do not expect to still be landlords in five years' time, and a further 21% say they have not yet decided what their future in the sector looks like.
Taken together, that means more than half of current landlords are either planning to leave or genuinely uncertain about whether they will stay.
Popple was direct about the implications. "Whilst fewer landlords leaving the sector is definitely good news, the wider signals are still concerning. Far too many don't see a future for themselves in the PRS, and there's only a very small cohort investing in portfolio expansion. We only have a short window to try to turn the tide.
"Through the right policy decisions and support systems, the Government has an opportunity to retain rather than lose the significant cohort of landlords who are on the fence about their future and considering selling up. That's something policymakers should take very seriously. Otherwise, the supply and demand pressures pushing up rents for tenants will only persist."
