Landlord possession claims increased in the first quarter of 2026 as property owners sought to regain control of homes before the Renters’ Rights Act came into force, according to analysis from LegalforLandlords.
The latest repossession data analysed by LegalforLandlords shows that 22,733 possession claims were issued during Q1 2026, representing a 5.9% increase compared with the previous quarter.
The rise comes ahead of the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act on 1 May, which abolished Section 21 notices and introduced a new legal framework for possession.
According to the analysis, possession claims from private landlords rose by 11.1% during the quarter, while claims from social landlords increased by 5%. Accelerated possession claims across both sectors also edged higher, rising by 1.7%.
The increase follows a period of declining possession activity throughout much of 2025. Accelerated possession claims had fallen by more than 10% during Q4 2025 before rebounding in the opening months of 2026.
LegalforLandlords said the figures could represent the final surge in Section 21-related possession activity before the legislative changes reshape the private rented sector.
Sim Sekhon, group CEO at LegalforLandlords, said: “The timing of these increases is highly significant. Landlords knew the Renters’ Rights Act was coming into force on 1 May and many clearly decided to act before the legislation changed the possession process permanently.
“The sharp rise in private landlord claims strongly suggests many landlords accelerated possession proceedings while Section 21 was still available to them.
“Many landlords have spent the last year working to understand what the new rules mean for their ability to manage risk, deal with arrears and recover possession when necessary. These figures suggest a significant number decided not to wait.
“There continues to be a real concern within the sector that the reforms have reduced confidence among existing landlords and will go on to discourage future investment in rental housing at a time when supply is already under pressure.”
The figures highlight concerns within parts of the private rented sector that the removal of Section 21 and wider reforms could affect landlord confidence and investment decisions, particularly against a backdrop of ongoing supply shortages.
Whether the increase represents a short-term reaction to legislative change or the beginning of a longer-term trend is likely to become clearer as possession data emerges over the remainder of 2026.
