Owners who regain possession in order to sell will be unable to re-let their properties for 12 months if they fail to find a buyer in a tough market, creating a risk for landlords trying to leave the sector

Landlords wanting to exit the rental market face new barriers under the Renters’ Rights Act, the NRLA has warned.

Owners who regain possession in order to sell will be unable to re-let their properties for 12 months if they fail to find a buyer in a tough market, creating a risk for landlords trying to leave the sector.

Chris Norris, Policy Director at the National Residential Landlord Association (NRLA), warns that the changes remove flexibility previously available to landlords to test the market.

He told The Times: It’s a very live risk. Once you pull the trigger, there’s no way back.

The housing market, he adds, especially in London, is not in good shape. Over the past couple of years, it’s not been uncommon for landlords to put their properties on the market for six months, realise they’re not getting the sale price and put it back on the rental market.

He warned it could result in landlords facing long periods without rental income while they continue trying to secure a sale.

At the same time, the rental rule changes could significantly lengthen the sales process. Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions have been abolished, so landlords wanting possession in order to sell must now rely on Ground 1A, the Section 8 sales ground, which requires a minimum four-month notice period.

Once possession has been regained, the property cannot then be re-let for 12 months. If tenants refuse to leave, landlords must apply to the courts for a possession order.

Even before the changes, Ministry of Justice figures showed possession claims took an average of 27 weeks to progress through the courts.