Small landlords will be forced out of PRS and replaced by money-motivated landlords

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Small landlords will be forced out of PRS and replaced by money-motivated landlords

Small landlords who care about their tenants will sell up in 2026 and be replaced by “money-motivated landlords” due to new regulations, claims legal experts.

The Daily Telegraph reports mounting regulations, such as the Renters’ Rights Act, will see small landlords exit due to high costs and increased council powers.

Under the Renters’ Rights Act, councils have the power to fine landlords up to £40,000.

Smaller landlords will leave the market

Phil Turtle, compliance director from Landlord Licensing & Defence told The Telegraph: “Small landlords will inevitably be the first to sell up, worsening supply levels.

“What is already happening inevitably is that the older-style landlords who really cared about their tenants and providing decent homes for them will leave.

“New money-motivated landlords will replace them, but the focus will be on picking up properties cheap from distressed existing landlords and maximising profits.”

Mr Turtle warns that increased council powers will make it unprofitable for smaller landlords to remain in the market.

He said to The Telegraph: “Smaller landlords are going to quit the market. There are so many extra punitive fining opportunities under the Renters’ Rights Act for the councils’ money-making machine.

“Anyone with their pension tied up in property can only see the councils taking it away through massive fines for the most simple of mistakes.

“Now any slip-up on a tenancy agreement or the pre-tenancy paperwork is going to cost a minimum of £4,000 fine with, just like speeding, no leeway or compassion available from power-crazed councils enforcement officers.”

Paul Shamplina, founder and manager of legal firm Landlord Action, adds: “Self-managed landlords are more vulnerable to these penalties.

“More landlords will need to hire a letting agent, further eating away at profits.”

Good landlords have nothing to fear

However, the government claim the reforms will help landlords and tenants.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government told The Telegraph: “Good landlords have nothing to fear from our Renters’ Rights Act

“Our landmark legislation will level the playing field by giving renters greater security in their homes, while landlords will benefit from a simpler tenancy system and stronger powers to take swift action against anti-social behaviour.”

However, as previously reported by Property118, industry experts have warned the Renters’ Rights Act will cause an “inevitable influx” of court cases, putting pressure on the courts.

Under the Renters’ Rights Act, Section 21 will be abolished, meaning landlords will need to rely on specific grounds for possession using Section 8 notices.

A spokesperson for the NRLA told Property118: “Wait times within the court system have become chronically over-extended over recent years, long before the government announced implementation dates for the Renters’ Rights Act.

“We expect that the introduction of the Act will lead to substantial, additional, increases in court wait times as a consequence of the removal of the accelerated procedure and increased complexity.

“As a result, we continue to urge the government to announce how they intend to reform the process ahead of the inevitable influx of cases into the court system. Without a coherent solution to this problem, there is a huge risk that the issues around court wait times will only be compounded by a lack of action”.

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Underinsurance and the Average Clause – Avoiding Reduced Payouts

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Underinsurance and the Average Clause – Avoiding Reduced Payouts

Underinsurance is one of the most expensive mistakes a landlord can make. If your sum insured is too low, insurers can apply the average clause and reduce any claim in the same proportion that you are underinsured. The reduction can hit every part of the claim – buildings repairs, contents, and sometimes loss of rent – turning a manageable incident into a major capital hit. This article explains how average works, where landlords go wrong, and how to set accurate sums insured so claims pay in full.

What Is Underinsurance?

Underinsurance occurs when the amount you insure (the sum insured) is less than the true value the policy requires. For landlords, this usually means the rebuild cost of the property (not the market value), including professional fees and debris removal, or the replacement cost of landlord contents.

How the Average Clause Reduces Your Claim

Most landlord policies contain an average clause. If you are, say, 25% underinsured, your payout can be cut by 25% on any claim – not just total losses.

Example (buildings):

• True rebuild cost: £300,000
• Sum insured on policy: £225,000 (i.e. 75% of the true figure)
• Escape of water claim value: £40,000
• Average applied: insurer pays 75% of £40,000 = £30,000 (before excess)

That missing £10,000 comes out of your pocket. If the same proportional reduction is applied to loss of rent linked to the buildings sum, your income cover may also be trimmed.

Rebuild Cost vs Market Value – Not the Same Thing

Market value reflects land, location and demand. Insurers need the cost to rebuild the structure to current standards: materials, labour, professional fees (architects, engineers, surveyors), debris removal, plus any code-compliance upgrades (e.g. HMO fire doors, emergency lighting). In London or prime areas, the market value may be far higher than rebuild; in other regions, rebuild can be surprisingly close. Always insure for rebuild, not sale price.

What to Include in a Buildings Sum Insured

• Full rebuild cost of the dwelling to an equivalent specification.
• Professional fees – architects, engineers, surveyors, planning fees.
• Debris removal and site clearance.
• Outbuildings, walls, gates, fences, drives and paths if the policy requires them within the sum insured.
• HMO upgrades – fire doors, alarm systems, emergency lighting where installed.
• VAT if you are not VAT-registered and would have to pay VAT on rebuild works.

Check your policy: some include professional fees and debris removal within the buildings sum insured; others add separate limits. Either way, make sure the overall allowance is adequate.

Contents and Landlord’s Fixtures

For furnished lets, set a realistic landlord contents sum insured covering furniture, appliances, curtains/blinds and floor coverings you own. Avoid relying on a token limit (e.g. £5,000) if you’ve installed quality furnishings. Remember that tenants’ possessions are not covered by your policy.

Loss of Rent – Amount and Duration

Loss of rent is usually limited by time (12, 18 or 24 months) and sometimes by a monetary cap. Two frequent problems:

• Too short a period – complex reinstatement (fires, subsidence, listed buildings) can exceed 12 months. Consider 18–24 months.
• Linked to buildings underinsurance – if your policy measures loss of rent as a percentage of the buildings sum or applies average across sections, underinsurance can reduce income cover too.

Day One Reinstatement and Declaration-Linked Cover

Two features that help protect against underinsurance:

• Day One Reinstatement – you declare today’s rebuild value (the declared value), and the policy adds an automatic uplift (often 15–50%) to absorb cost inflation between policy start and a potential claim. You must still get the declared value right.
• Declaration-linked (adjustable) policies – common on portfolios; you declare values annually and the insurer applies an uplift and/or adjustment at year end. Again, the starting figures must be sound.

Index linking helps mid-term, but it does not fix an initially wrong declared value. Garbage in, garbage out.

How Landlords Commonly Underinsure

• Using the purchase price or mortgage valuation instead of rebuild cost.
• Forgetting professional fees and debris removal.
• Ignoring extensions, loft conversions and HMO upgrades completed since the last review.
• Not including outbuildings, boundary walls and hard landscaping where required.
• Setting a 12-month loss-of-rent limit for properties that would realistically take longer to reinstate.
• Assuming the freeholder’s block policy makes you safe when you still have landlord contents and loss of rent exposures within your demised areas.

Leasehold and Blocks – Who Insures What?

In flats, the freeholder (or RMC) often insures the building. You still need cover for landlord contents, loss of rent (if your lease allows you to insure it), and liability. Ask for a copy of the block policy and check sums insured, perils (including escape of water) and excesses. If the block is underinsured, you carry indirect risk through delays and shortfalls.

Waiver of Average – Rare but Valuable

Some specialist insurers offer a waiver of average or a limited tolerance (e.g. no average if within 10–15% of the correct value). It’s not universal and usually comes with conditions (professional valuation, Day One wording). If available, it provides a safety net but is not an excuse to lowball sums insured.

Worked Example – Getting the Number Right

Two-storey semi, extended kitchen, HMO upgrades (fire doors/alarms).

• Base rebuild estimate (current rates): £240,000
• Professional fees (10%): £24,000
• Debris removal/site clearance (7%): £16,800
• Outbuildings/boundaries/hardstanding: £9,200
• Total declared value: £290,000
• Day One uplift (25%): policy limit effectively ~£362,500

If you had insured at £220,000 “to save premium”, you’d be ~24% light at inception, and average would bite on every claim.

Practical Checklist to Avoid Underinsurance

• Get a rebuild assessment – commission a professional valuation or use a recognised calculator and sanity-check unusual features (listed status, basements, high-spec kitchens).
• Add fees and debris removal – ensure your allowance matches your policy structure.
• Include VAT if you are not VAT-registered.
• Review after works – extensions, lofts, conversions and compliance upgrades all increase rebuild cost.
• Use Day One with an appropriate uplift (often 25–35% on portfolios).
• Right-size loss of rent – set both monthly amount (your actual rent) and duration (consider 18–24 months for complex risks).
• Portfolio housekeeping – maintain a property schedule listing declared values, contents limits, loss-of-rent months, excesses and special features.
• Ask about waiver of average – if your insurer offers it, understand the conditions (e.g. professional valuation within 3 years).

Final Thoughts

Average is not a technicality; it’s a powerful clause that can strip thousands from a valid claim. The cure is straightforward: set accurate sums insured, use Day One where appropriate, and review values after any works. Treat these steps as part of your risk management, just like inspections and certificates. When a claim happens, you want the policy to pay in full – not 75%.

Request your quote or call-back

The most efficient way to get a personal quote with the best price and cover possible is to call the team on 01832 770965 so we can focus on your enquiry when you are ready and sitting down with your portfolio details to hand.

Alternatively, you can use the form below to request one of our team to give you a call back.

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Publication date: Tuesday 6 January 2026

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Scotland’s largest landlord is buying homes for social rent

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Scotland’s largest landlord is buying homes for social rent

Scotland’s biggest registered social landlord has begun buying homes across Glasgow to boost the city’s supply of affordable housing.

Wheatley Homes Glasgow is using funding from the Scottish Government and backing from Glasgow City Council.

The programme will see each property being refurbished before being offered at social rent to households facing urgent need.

The provider says home purchases will continue until March 2026.

Offering market value

Owners who sell will be paid market value and offered what Wheatley describes as a clear, supportive transaction, with no obligation to proceed.

The landlord is prioritising streets and developments where it already operates, although homes of any size or type will be considered, including properties not yet listed for sale.

Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “I warmly welcome this new approach taken by Wheatley Homes where, in partnership with Glasgow City Council, they are working to rapidly increase the number of homes available to families and tackling waiting lists.

“In my Housing Emergency Action Plan published in September this year, £80 million was made available for the immediate purchase of properties to reduce pressures in the need for social homes – £24 million of that went to Glasgow City and is now helping to fund this work.”

Contact Wheatley to sell

Homeowners in neighbourhoods where Wheatley already has stock are being encouraged to make contact if they are thinking about selling.

After a valuation, the organisation can submit a no obligation offer, even when a property has not been placed on the open market.

Managing director Aisling Mylrea said: “There is a huge demand in the city for social housing.

“This project is just one way we are helping increase the number of homes available to families and other people on housing waiting lists.”

She added: “Thanks to funding from the Scottish Government, we can buy homes which are on the open market or speak directly with owners who are thinking of selling.

“We are looking at many different ways to increase the number of available homes for social rent in the city, whether that’s thanks to our own new build programme, buying directly from housing developers or through this new project.”

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Online landlord licensing forms slammed as council advertises on the Tube

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Online landlord licensing forms slammed as council advertises on the Tube

A London council has been accused of poor timing and clumsy execution after landlord licensing adverts appeared across the Tube network before an early bird discount ends.

One Property118 reader, Richard, questioned the coincidence, saying: “Wandsworth council has posted landlord licensing ads on the Tube, just days before the ‘early bird’ offer expires! Coincidence?”

According to Richard, the online application portal appears to be a recycled HMO system repurposed to handle both selective licensing for single households and families, alongside additional HMO licensing for smaller shared homes.

He describes it as ‘evidently a clumsily adapted version of an existing HMO form’.

His complaints have been echoed on this site in recent years with accusations that councils make the licensing process more difficult than it needs to be.

Wandsworth selective licensing

Wandsworth Council has recently confirmed plans to extend two landlord licensing schemes to protect tenants.

The current arrangements cover all Houses in Multiple Occupation across the borough, along with every privately rented home in South Balham, Furzedown, Tooting Bec and Tooting Broadway.

Landlords were given until 31 December 2025 to benefit from an early bird fee reduction.

From 1 April, the framework widens again so any landlord letting a property in East Putney, West Putney or Northcote will need a licence, regardless of property size or the number of occupants.

But one of the major issues with Wandsworth’s online application process are the basic design choices which will cause landlord frustration.

First request puzzles

The accommodation section opens with what Richard says is a puzzling request labelled ‘Room Name Area’.

He says this is misleading because it is simply asking applicants to name the room.

Richard adds: “Surely a drop-down menu would be more helpful.”

The next problem are the form’s navigation issues so when adding further rooms, users must scroll back up the page to find an add button positioned above previous entries.

Poor programming features

Richard is blunt in his assessment of the selective licensing process, saying: “The likely English-as-a-second-language programmers seemingly couldn’t figure out how to put ‘Add’ at the end where it belongs.”

Then there’s uncertainty over household definitions to compound the landlord’s irritation with the council.

The forms do not explain what happens if occupiers pair up and fall below the additional HMO threshold.

Richard asks: “Are councils seriously expecting landlords to ask who is sleeping with whom?”

Forms are illogical

He stresses that these examples barely touch the wider problem and adds: “This just scratches the surface of these form’s logical and grammatical incompetence, but they are not alone.”

Even where national data should simplify matters, the system appears to fall short.

Landlords attempting to upload an EPC find that the only certificate held on a public register cannot be downloaded as a PDF, despite the licensing portal demanding one.

Instead, the document is displayed on screen without any save option.

There is, however, a workaround and Richard is advising fellow landlord applicants to use the print function and select print to PDF.

Then they must save the file locally and then upload it manually.

Landlords apply for licenses

Since Wandsworth’s scheme launched in July, the council says it has received 5,955 licence applications.

Enforcement activity is already under way, with 444 inspections completed and 85 notices issued where safety standards were not met.

The authority warns that landlords operating without the correct licence risk prosecution or financial penalties of up to £30,000.

Tenants living in unlicensed properties may also be able to reclaim up to 12 months of rent, including Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, where an offence has been committed.

Alongside enforcement, the scheme introduces a new Gold Standard, intended to recognise landlords who go beyond minimum legal and tenancy requirements.

There’s more information about selective licensing, and how to apply, on the council’s website.

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The Role of Mortgage Brokers in Securing Buy-To-Let Finance

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The Role of Mortgage Brokers in Securing Buy-To-Let Finance

In 2026, mortgage brokers play a more important role than ever in helping landlords navigate the complex buy-to-let market. With stricter affordability rules, changing lender appetites and new product innovations, going directly to lenders is rarely the most effective option. This article explains why specialist brokers matter, what they can do that landlords often cannot, and how to choose the right one for your portfolio.

Why Brokers Are Essential in 2026

The buy-to-let mortgage landscape has evolved significantly. Today, many of the most competitive products are only available through intermediaries. At the same time, lender criteria have become more complex, particularly for portfolio landlords, HMOs and limited company borrowing.

Key reasons brokers are essential include:

• Access to more lenders – many specialist lenders do not deal directly with the public.
• Understanding of criteria – brokers know which lenders accept HMOs, holiday lets or complex income profiles.
• Portfolio presentation – experienced brokers help landlords prepare evidence packs to meet lender expectations.
• Negotiation power – brokers often secure better deals due to volume business and established relationships.

What Brokers Actually Do

A good broker goes far beyond simply sourcing a mortgage. Their role includes:

• Assessing affordability using different stress test models (125% vs 145%).
• Comparing fixed, tracker and green mortgage options.
• Advising on refinancing sequences for larger portfolios.
• Flagging lender restrictions around EPCs, property types and exposure limits.
• Handling paperwork, reducing the chance of application delays or declines.

Case Study: Broker vs Direct Application

Scenario: A landlord with five mortgaged properties approached their bank for a remortgage. The application failed affordability at 145% coverage, and the bank would not consider portfolio surplus.

Solution: A specialist broker redirected the application to a lender applying 125% coverage at pay rate. They also structured the portfolio spreadsheet to highlight surplus rental income.

Outcome: The landlord secured a five-year fixed mortgage at 5.25%, reduced monthly costs by £400 compared with SVR, and avoided portfolio disruption.

How Brokers Add Value Beyond Rates

• Speed – knowing which lenders move fastest saves time in competitive markets.
• Problem-solving – brokers can find workarounds for credit issues, short leases or unusual property types.
• Future planning – aligning mortgage choices with succession, incorporation or expansion strategies.
• Compliance – ensuring applications meet lender rules, reducing risk of decline.

Choosing the Right Broker

Not all brokers are equal. Landlords should look for:

• Specialist buy-to-let experience – not all brokers understand complex landlord needs.
• Whole-of-market access – ensures you see all available options, not just a panel of lenders.
• Transparent fees – clear disclosure of broker fees and any commission received from lenders.
• Proven track record – testimonials and case studies from other landlords.

Final Thoughts

In a market where criteria matter as much as rates, brokers are no longer optional for serious landlords. They provide access, expertise and strategy that direct applications rarely achieve. The best results come from long-term relationships where brokers understand your portfolio and can anticipate needs before issues arise.

Speak to Our Sponsor

Our sponsor works daily with landlords across the UK, helping them secure competitive finance, prepare portfolio applications and avoid costly declines. Whether you are remortgaging, expanding or restructuring, a broker-led approach ensures the best outcomes.

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Publication date: Monday, 5 January 2026

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Lodger supply slows as calls grow to raise Rent a Room tax threshold

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Lodger supply slows as calls grow to raise Rent a Room tax threshold

Rental stock from households taking in lodgers is barely rising despite intense pressure across the housing market, research reveals.

Growth in the number of rooms available to rent in people’s homes increased by just 1.5% in the past year.

Previously, it had surged by 19%, the flatshare platform SpareRoom says, and it now wants a rule change to encourage people to let rooms.

Close short lets loophole

A director of the firm, Matt Hutchinson, said: “People rent out rooms in their homes for all sorts of reasons – financial, practical and social – and in doing so they inject desperately-needed supply into the UK room rental market which is suffering under the weight of intense demand that’s inflating rents.

“The original intention of the Rent a Room scheme was to increase the quantity and variety of low-cost rented housing.

“However, because the scheme doesn’t stipulate a minimum length of stay, in recent times it has also been used by those renting out furnished rooms to holidaymakers on sites like Airbnb.”

He added: “It’s time this loophole was closed so the scheme can help renters as intended.

“We also want to see the scheme’s threshold increased to reflect rents today.

“Tax lost to the public purse by raising the threshold could be recouped by taxing holiday lets.”

25% of shared accommodation

The data shows that a quarter of all shared accommodation now comes from live-in landlords.

These rooms typically cost less, around 13% below standard rents, helping keep a lid on rent price inflation.

Rents have jumped 28% in five years and in Q3 this year, the UK average hit £753 a month.

However, the tax rules have not kept pace with the Rent a Room scheme threshold remaining unchanged since 2016.

That’s when the average monthly rent was £573 but today, letting one spare room could generate around £9,036 a year and £7,500 of that is tax free.

With 58% of postcode districts now seeing rents above £625 a month, SpareRoom says more hosts risk falling into tax bands they never expected.

Tax free earnings worry

The platform surveyed 1,582 people who previously rented to lodgers or had considered doing so.

Most respondents said a higher allowance would encourage them to open their doors again.

Many say they left the market because their earnings would exceed the tax-free limit.

The company says the sector never fully recovered from the pandemic though numbers rose after lockdowns eased but growth has slipped back again.

Short-let tax breaks

A long-standing loophole means the same tax break can be used for short-stay holiday lets.

SpareRoom says a simple 31-day minimum stay requirement would ensure tax relief supports housing rather than guest nights.

There are an estimated 28 million empty bedrooms across England, Wales and Scotland.

Releasing 5% of those would provide places to live for 1.4 million people struggling to find affordable accommodation.

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Get ahead of the curve: we’ll sell your properties before the January rush drives prices down

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Property118

Get ahead of the curve: we’ll sell your properties before the January rush drives prices down

Happy new year! We’re back and ready to go, and for many landlords who waited until this year to start selling, this means getting ahead of the curve.

With just 4 months to go until the Renters’ Rights Act becomes law, and the news that there might be many more hits to landlords by 2027, there’s still plenty of time to act to make sure you’re way ahead of the curve to get the best prices for your properties this month.

Why? Because the New Year means only one thing: a mad rush to sell. Both experienced private landlords and property experts have been warning about the “exodus” that’s about to hit now we’re out of the festive period. So if you’re a landlord and you don’t want a buy-to-let flood of the market drive your prices down, now is the time to sell.

Indeed, with thousands of landlords looking to exit the market and cash in before May, and many considering downsizing to more manageable portfolio sizes, it’ll pay to act sooner rather than later if you’re thinking of selling.

So what can landlords do this week? The simple answer is: get ahead of the curve and start your selling process now.

Landlord Sales Agency, known for being the top UK exit portfolio company is providing that exact solution.

No matter what property and what condition, we have a private database of over 30,000 buyers, the top property buying companies, private funds and first time buyers that we market your properties to, generating a bidding war that pushes your properties to the highest prices. What’s more, we manage the entire process for you and we have a 100% success rate in selling tenanted buy-to-let houses

We’ll get your properties on the market now, so while other landlords are pausing to recover from the festive period, you’re streaming ahead of the game to bank the highest possible prices for your properties.

So get in touch now. We’re ready if you are.

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2026: The year landlords finally lose their nerve

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2026: The year landlords finally lose their nerve

Well, thank goodness 2025 is over! It was bumpier than even I imagined but what will 2026 bring? More of the same, I fear.

I think 2025 will go down as the year the UK’s private rented sector finally cracked, not because of one single blow, but because the cumulative weight of bad policies, hostile politics (and politicians) and clear disrespect for those who provide homes.

This year won’t just be another chapter in a long saga of regulatory change, what with tighter rules that disadvantage landlords, many of us will be asking: ‘What are we even doing here?’.

When the Renters’ Rights Bill first appeared I warned that landlords would effectively be handing control of their property to the tenant.

Many critics in the comments ridiculed the idea and claimed I was crying wolf.

Then the Renters’ Rights Act became law and landlords who read the small print were the ones doing the crying.

I still can’t believe how many landlords don’t know what is coming.

I appreciate too that landlords in Scotland have seen a tricky 2025 with rent cap legislation coming in and landlords in Wales having to deal with what appears to be the ludicrous Rent Smart Wales scheme. I feel your pain.

The landlord exodus

So, here’s the hard truth many landlords, tenant organisations and media pundits won’t want to admit, there is definitely a landlord exodus underway across the UK.

It’s not a media myth, it’s real and 2026 will see it accelerate.

Those that have gone, or are currently selling, are the opening act of an end of the pier show called ‘End of the small landlord’.

Most landlords will agree the end of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions is the line in the sand.

Add to that the effective rent cap since tenants can object to rent rises, not refusing pets and periodic tenancies.

We will have in place, thanks to Labour, what is a tenants’ charter that doesn’t level the playing field at all.

Having a law that cripples those who provide homes isn’t a long overdue correction.

This biggest change to the PRS in 30 years is simply a way to force more landlords out.

Struggle for possession

But maybe that’s the point. Increasing the risk of arrears and struggling to regain possession is the aim.

I like what critics say about Two Tier’s crackdown on free speech on social media.

Arresting people for expressing an opinion means the process is the punishment. People are silenced by the fear of arrest.

Now we have a PRS that gives tenants all the power and yet leaves landlords with all of the liability.

For those small landlords who have strived to buy a home for your pension and house someone, I am truly sorry for what is about to happen.

If you get bad tenants who don’t pay and trash your home, you will become a charity offering free housing.

Forget your hard work and sacrifice, Labour, and for that matter, the Conservative, don’t like you.

Landlords will be bankrupted

Of course, tenant groups are celebrating this as justice long overdue and are now pressing for more action, including rent caps.

But landlords can’t pay fines for small mistakes by using the moral high ground since the new enforcement powers being handed to councils are horrific.

Fines of up to £40,000 and rent repayment orders, mean a single slip could bankrupt a small portfolio.

Councils can’t provide enough homes and those they have are regularly criticised by regulators for being in poor condition.

But they won’t get bankrupted, will they?

Though with the temporary housing bill going through the roof, they might start appreciating what private landlords actually offer.

Not only are landlords being discouraged, but we are seeing the PRS being dismantled in real time.

And there’s nothing we can do to stop it.

No one is on our side.

We know what’s coming

As we progress through 2026, we’ll get to see the leaflet we have to give tenants before May about their RRA rights.

Nothing about landlord rights, obviously, like paying your rent on time and not destroying the property.

Then we have the sledgehammer of energy efficiency rules, EPC deadlines, Making Tax Digital and rising statutory compliance costs.

How much will it cost to be on the landlord’s database with our private information freely available?

Social housing advocates and campaigners will openly talk about holding landlords to account, as if they haven’t caused enough damage as it is.

By the end of the year, we’ll see that if enough landlords do leave, the only ones left standing will be the big corporate players who can absorb costs.

They will also lobby for exemptions, and squeeze yields until tenants end up paying more anyway.

Perhaps our critics and haters will appreciate the real paradox of 2026 that policies designed to protect tenants will end up shrinking supply and pushing rents up.

We all know that if you remove the incentives, the behaviour changes and this could be the toughest year for landlords in decades.

Even worse, without small landlords the PRS will look like a heavily regulated quasi-welfare housing system.

For many of us, that’s not reform, it is redundancy dressed up as equality.

Until next time,

The Landlord Crusader

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