The vast majority of landlords—75%, to be exact—are deeply worried about the Government's plan to abolish Section 21 'no fault' evictions, as part of the newly introduced Renters' Rights Bill. These concerns primarily revolve around the fear of losing control over their own properties and the ability to remove problematic tenants. Many landlords argue that the power to evict difficult tenants is absolutely "vital" to maintaining their properties and running their businesses smoothly.

One landlord made it clear, stating, “Abolition of Section 21 is completely wrong – landlords need to be able to take back control of their property, if so desired, once the fixed term AST (Assured Shorthold Tenancy) has expired.”

Another landlord was even more blunt: “It’s a catastrophe for landlords. It takes away any control of the property from landlords.”

At the Labour Party Conference, Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner took the stage to promote the Bill. She confidently told her audience that the Bill aims to “rebalance the relationship between tenant and landlord and end no fault evictions – for good.” The sentiment was echoed by Housing Minister Matthew Pennycock, who told ‘BBC Breakfast’ that they aim to have the new rules in place by next summer.

The idea of banning 'no fault' evictions isn’t new—it was first floated by the previous government as part of its Renters’ Reform Bill. However, due to an amendment, the abolition was made conditional on improvements to the court system. That earlier attempt didn’t survive the political timeline, as the General Election cut short any further progress.

This new iteration of the Bill is more aggressive—it aims to end arbitrary evictions and boost tenant security without tying the abolition of Section 21 to court reforms. Instead, it proposes introducing more transparent and expanded possession grounds for landlords who genuinely need to reclaim their properties.

Despite these reassurances, many landlords have expressed serious reservations about the practical side of things. Landlords who participated in Landbay’s survey pointed out how slow and overburdened the courts already are, and they fear that an influx of Section 8 claims, the other legal avenue for eviction, could make things even worse.

One landlord didn’t mince words: “To have any faith in these proposals is to be naive with regard the capacity of the British court system to handle the workload in a reasonable time.”

Another was equally sceptical: “Currently, the courts are overwhelmed with the amount of requests they get. The courts need to cope before the Bill is implemented.”

Rob Stanton, sales and distribution director at Landbay, acknowledged the long-standing anticipation for rent reforms, particularly on Labour's agenda. He noted, “Rent reform has long been on Labour’s radar and formed a key part of its election manifesto. We knew this would be a priority for the new Government and it looks like it plans to move quickly.”

Stanton also emphasized that while landlords agree tenants should be treated fairly, they’re concerned about their own rights being overlooked. “No decent landlord will object to tenants being treated fairly, but they argue that the property owner deserves the same rights. We have to hope that, as the Bill starts its long journey through parliament and the House of Lords, amendments are made to create a fairer piece of legislation that doesn’t negatively impact supply or rent for tenants.”

Despite the concerns swirling around the new Bill, Stanton remains optimistic about the future of the buy-to-let market, stating, “It’s important to remind landlords that the buy-to-let sector and the private rental sector is no stranger to new legislation. Add in changes of government and economic crises, the sector continues to thrive.”

His parting reassurance to landlords: “Above all, lenders such as Landbay remain active in the market, working with brokers to support landlords of all sizes and requirements. No matter how the new Bill comes out in the wash, this will not change.”

In short, while the Government’s new Renters’ Rights Bill promises to shake up the rental market, landlords remain cautious, if not outright alarmed, by what they perceive as a significant threat to their rights and the practical workings of property management.