New analysis from Inventory Base shows that the total number of landlord possession claims issued last year was 91,093 – 7.8% lower than the 98,766 recorded in 2024.
Operations Director, Siân Hemming-Metcalfe (pictured), says this shows there has been no immediate Renters’ Rights Act-driven surge in evictions.
On a quarterly basis, in 2023, the average number of possession claims was 23,553, rising to 24,692 in 2024 before falling to 22,773 in 2025. Inventory Base says this may be because the Renters’ Rights Bill did not receive Royal Assent until October 2025, meaning landlords could not be certain the legislation would pass or what form it would take.
Temporary lull
According to the Inventory Base, though, the quieter period may only be temporary. With the Renters’ Rights Act due to come into force on 1 May 2026, possession orders could yet see “an enormous spike” as landlords rush to regain properties before the rules change and the process becomes more complex.
Letting agents will be the ones managing the operational reality: increased scrutiny, more disputes, and far greater reliance on inspection evidence.”
Hemming-Metcalfe says: “As the implementation date approaches, we may see an uptick in repossessions, but this isn’t only a landlord issue. Letting agents will be the ones managing the operational reality: increased scrutiny, more disputes, and far greater reliance on inspection evidence.”
She adds that “regular, consistent inspections and detailed inventories” will be essential, with robust reporting becoming “the backbone of any successful Section 8 case”.
It means, she says, that agents may see a rise in landlord instructions before the RRA takes effect, alongside greater demand for inspections and inventories.
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