Landlord repossessions declined last year even as the sector prepared for the abolition of Section 21, raising questions about whether activity will surge before the new regime takes effect.
Landlord possession claims fell by almost -8% in 2025, according to new analysis from Inventory Base, despite expectations that owners might move swiftly to regain properties ahead of legislative reform.
The Renters’ Rights Act is due to come into force on 1 May 2026 and will ban Section 21 evictions, commonly known as no-fault evictions. The changes are intended to strengthen tenant security, but they will also alter how landlords and letting agents manage disputes and pursue possession.
Against that backdrop, some in the sector anticipated a rush of claims during 2025. However, the data suggests a more measured response.
In total, 91,093 possession claims were issued in 2025, 7.8% fewer than the 98,766 recorded in 2024. The average number of claims per quarter also declined. In 2023, the quarterly average stood at 23,553. This rose to 24,692 in 2024 before falling back to 22,773 in 2025.
One explanation may lie in the legislative timetable. The legislation, then known as the Renters’ Rights Bill, did not receive Royal Assent until 27 October 2025.
Until that point, landlords lacked certainty over both its passage and final provisions, which may have led many to delay decisions on possession proceedings.
For letting agents, the period leading up to implementation could yet prove significant. Any late surge in claims during the first months of 2026 would increase case volumes and intensify demand for inspections, inventories and compliance documentation.
If landlords who have waited for clarity now seek to regain properties before 1 May, agents may face a compressed window in which to process instructions and gather the evidence required to support possession under the existing framework.
Sián Hemming-Metcalfe, operations director at Inventory Base, said: “As the implementation date approaches, we may see an uptick in repossessions, but 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.
“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.
“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.”
