Rental market strains diminish as an increasing number of landlords acquire new properties. – TNT

Pressures in the private rented sector appear to be easing, with new research showing a rise in the number of landlords purchasing additional homes. 

According to a national survey of over 2,000 private landlords in England – conducted by the TDS Charitable Foundation – 23% reported increasing their property portfolios in the past year, up from 19% the previous year.

At the same time, the proportion of landlords selling property remained stable at 14%, compared to 13% last year. Those purchasing added an average of 2.5 properties each – up from 2.2 last year and outpacing the average 2.3 properties sold by those exiting the market.

The survey also found that 56% of landlords increased rents over the past 12 months, down from 61% the previous year, indicating a possible cooling in rent inflation. Separate tenant research by the foundation recorded a slight drop in the proportion of tenants struggling to afford rent, which now stands at 32% – down from 35% a year ago. Among full-time students, the figure has fallen more sharply – from 45% to 32%.

Official figures from the Office for National Statistics show that annual rent increases across the UK have slowed to 6.7% in the year to June 2025 – down from a peak of 9.1% in the year to March 2024.

However, Steve Harriott, chief executive at TDS Group and a trustee of the TDS Charitable Foundation, said many tenants are continuing to struggle to afford their rents, despite cost pressures in the sector easing

“Measures in the Renters’ Rights Bill to help tenants challenge unreasonable rent increases will count for nothing unless they are equipped with the information about rents and provided with the detailed information that they need to exercise these rights effectively,” said Harriott.

He added: “Alongside this, it’s clear that many low-income tenants are continuing to struggle to cover their rents due to the ongoing freeze on housing benefit rates.”

The TDS Charitable Foundation conducts its Voice of the Landlord and Voice of the Tenant surveys annually – tracking trends and changes across the private rented sector in England.