London landlord exodus on the rise - warning

Ongoing tax and regulatory clampdowns on landlords have led to warnings of a buy-to-let exodus and new data suggests that may be the case - at least in London.

The number of properties for sale in London that were previously rented has increased, according to research from TwentyCi. 

The analytics company found that 22% (8,006)) of all newly listed homes for sale in Inner London during July 2024 were available to rent at some point in the past decade, marking a 10-year high.  

This figure compares with 15.6% (4,055) in July 2023 and 12.9% (2,664) in July 2019 - the last ‘normal’ year before the pandemic.  

Meanwhile, the number of previously rented homes listed for sale across the UK was just 9% in July 2024, highlighting how the trend is highly concentrated in the capital.  

Colin Bradshaw, chief executive of TwentyCi, said: “Aside from mortgage increases, landlords have growing fears around a possible rise in capital gains tax and compliance demands for energy efficiencies. 

“Overall, the rental sector has become much more expensive and unpredictable for landlords over the last decade.”

Bradshaw warned that landlords selling now obviously comes at a very difficult point for the private rented sector (PRS). 

Available properties to rent are at their lowest since TwentyCi has been recording data in the past 15 years, at 276,000 in July 2024 for the whole of the UK, compared with 369,000 in July 2019 - a reduction of more than 25%.

The average asking rent across the UK based on the available stock is £1,869 per month, while in Inner London it is £2,399.