A snap poll conducted by Goodlord suggests that 25% of landlords report challenges regaining possession of properties from problem tenants.

The findings come after Section 21 evictions were abolished as part of the Renters Rights Act, which came into force in May.

Section 8 notices are now the only legal means for landlords to regain possession of their properties, and they require clearly defined grounds. 

Landlords who have had reason to evict tenants since 1st May must also follow a longer administrative process: for example, waiting four weeks after serving a Section 8 notice for rent arrears before proceedings can begin (this is double the previous notice period). 

Court delays are extending this timeline further, with Section 8 claims yet to be heard.

In response, 39% of landlords surveyed by Goodlord said they had adopted more cautious tenant vetting procedures to avoid repossession issues; and 9% are investing more in tenant retention to avoid turnover. 

Separate research reinforces the scale of the challenges landlords face at the point of tenant selection. 

A recent Goodlord report into tenancy fraud found that fraudulent tenancy applications are costing the private rental sector an estimated £4.1 billion in financial losses every year, with 41 tenancy applications per 1,000 flagged for suspected fraud between July 2025 and June 2026. 

The poll also highlights wider impacts landlords are seeing as a result of the Act. 

According to the findings, half (50%) of landlords have noticed an increased compliance burden as a result of the legislation, with a further 29% affected by higher compliance and insurance costs. 

And one in four landlords (23%) report higher letting agent fees since 1st May, and 1 in 10 (10%) have experienced longer void periods between tenancies.