Is Now a Good Time to Become a Landlord?

The proposed Renters’ Rights Bill, expected to become law by the end of the year, introduces several constraints for landlords in England. These include tougher eviction processes, caps on rent increases, and a ban on accepting multiple months’ rent in advance.

Other potential downsides include:

• Increasing property maintenance costs
• Planned energy efficiency requirements from 2030, likely requiring investment in upgrades
• Stamp duty surcharges on buy-to-let purchases

In addition, property price growth has remained fairly flat over the past year. With National Savings & Investments and other providers offering over 4% on five-year bonds, some investors may prefer lower-risk options.

The most encouraging sign for landlords is the continued rise in rental prices. In the 12 months to May 2025, average rents in England climbed by 7.1%, with some regions like the North East seeing rises as high as 9.7%. Yorkshire saw more modest growth of 3.7%.

Mortgage availability has also improved. There are now around 1,200 more buy-to-let mortgage products on the market than a year ago, and the average two-year fixed rate is at its lowest level since September 2022.

Becoming a landlord is rarely a simple decision. If you decide to take the plunge, purchasing the right property in the right location at the right price is more important than ever.

Forrester Boyd partner, Royal Deb, mentioned, ‘The buy-to-let landscape is changing rapidly. For would-be landlords, it’s a balancing act between opportunity and regulation. It’s more important than ever to take professional advice to ensure the numbers stack up: both now and in the future, and to take into consideration whether it’s advantageous buying a buy-to-let through a limited company.’

If you’re considering entering the rental market, you can find the Government’s guide to the Renters’ Rights Bill here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-the-renters-rights-bill/guide-to-the-renters-rights-bill#rent-in-advance