"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"
- Sim Sekhon - LegalforLandlords
Landlord possession claims rose by almost 6% in the first quarter of 2026 as property owners moved to regain control of homes before the Renters' Rights Act came into force on 1 May. Analysis by LegalforLandlords found that 22,733 possession claims were issued during Q1 2026, a quarterly increase of 5.9% compared to Q4 2025.
The figures reflect a clear attempt by landlords to act before the Renters' Rights Act removed Section 21 powers and introduced a legal framework that many in the sector fear will make repossession slower, more difficult, and more uncertain going forward.
Private landlords drove the increase, with the number of claims they issued rising by 11.1%. Claims from social landlords rose by 5% over the same period, while accelerated repossession claims across both sectors increased by 1.7%.
The timing is particularly striking given what preceded it. Possession activity had been falling throughout much of 2025, with accelerated possession claims dropping by more than 10% in Q4 2025 alone. That trend reversed sharply as landlords approached the implementation deadline, suggesting the legislative change prompted a deliberate acceleration of proceedings while Section 21 remained available.
The data may represent the final wave of Section 21-related possession activity before the Renters' Rights Act permanently reshapes the private rented sector.
"The timing of these increases is highly significant," said Sim Sekhon, group chief executive of LegalforLandlords.
"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."
