Landlord repossessions rose 6% in the first quarter of 2026 ahead of the Renters Rights Act, which came into force on 1st May.
LegalforLandlords analysed the latest repossession data from the government that shows 22,733 repossession claims were issued in the first quarter.
This is up 5.9% from the amount of repossession claims issued in the fourth quarter of 2025.
This increase was driven by an 11.1% uptick in the number of private landlords issuing claims, while the number of claims from social landlords increased by 5%.
Meanwhile, the number of accelerated repossession claims across both sectors rose by 1.7%.
Accelerated possession claims had fallen by more than 10% in Q4 2025 alone, before reversing course in the opening quarter of 2026 as landlords approached the implementation deadline for the new legislation.
“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,” said Sim Sekhon, group CEO at LegalforLandlords.
“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.”
