News from 5 May 2026
Savills estimated that 254,000 former buy-to-let properties were listed for sale across Great Britain in the year to the end of March 2026, according to Property Industry Eye. The report also said some sold homes returned to the rental sector under new owners.
London looks different
The London figure is particularly striking. If former rental homes make up a much larger share of new sales instructions in the capital, landlords there may be dealing with a sharper mix of high values, borrowing costs, regulation, service charges, maintenance costs and yield pressure.
For landlords outside London, the trend still matters, but the local picture may be very different. A strong rental market in one town does not cancel out weaker economics in another. The important question is whether each property has a realistic, compliant and properly funded future as a rental home.
That includes looking beyond headline rent. Void periods, insurance, repairs, letting costs, licensing, energy improvements and tax administration all affect whether a property is manageable. Landlords already preparing for Making Tax Digital record-keeping may find it sensible to review property-level figures at the same time, without drifting into rushed decisions.
