Landlord possession claims dropped in 2025, but analysts warn a rush to repossess properties could follow before Section 21 evictions are banned.
It’s not news that eviction is a huge problem in the UK. In August 2025, Labour’s former homelessness minister, Rushanara Ali resigned after she evicted four tenants from one of her properties and then re-let it a few weeks later for an additional £700.
However, new research from Inventory Base shows the number of landlord possession claims fell by almost 8% in 2025. Despite the good news, experts are warning the decline could be short-lived.
The research shows 91,093 possession claims were issued last year – a 7.8% decrease from the 98,766 recorded in 2024. The average number of quarterly claims also dropped to 22,773 in 2025, down from 24,692 the previous year.
The fall comes ahead of major legislative change. The Renters’ Rights Act, which received Royal Assent on 27th October 2025, will ban Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions when it comes into force on 1st May 2026.
Analysts suggest the drop in claims last year could be because landlords were waiting to see if the bill would pass or what its final form would be. If correct, this could trigger a spike in possession orders in the first half of 2026, as landlords act before the new rules apply.
Sián Hemming-Metcalfe, operations director at Inventory Base, forewarned ‘ this isn’t only a landlord issue. Letting agents will be the ones managing the operational reality: increased scrutiny, more disputes and far greater reliance on inspection evidence.’
‘The key is preparation: regular, consistent inspections and detailed inventories and risk assessments, like HHSRS, give agents and landlords the documentation they need to act decisively, protect the asset, and demonstrate compliance,’ she continued.
‘When tenants feel safe and settled, they are far more likely to stay long term. Longer tenancies reduce churn, minimise costly void periods, and cut the expense of repeated marketing and onboarding. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, robust reporting will no longer be optional – it will be the backbone of any successful Section 8 case, and a critical safeguard against escalating risk.’
Separate data from the Office for National Statistics shows in the UK, only around 15% of private tenants remain in the same tenancy for longer than 10 years.
Sián added: ‘As the sector moves into a post-Section 21 environment, the agents with the strongest compliance processes and the best property evidence will be the ones best placed to protect landlords, tenants, and their own businesses.’
Photo: Alena Darmel
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