The private rental sector provides vital shelter to over 5 million households, both those unable to access the housing market and those who choose to rent for lifestyle reasons.

But the traditional landlords – buy to let investors and small portfolio owners – have come under increasing pressure from tax and legislative change. Savills analysis suggests that some 40,000 have exited the sector over the past year.

Further legislative change is being considered, including the ending of section 21 (which allows landlords to serve a minimum of two months’ notice on a tenant without giving a reason). Without question, legislation provides a vital layer of protection for tenants, but it needs to be sufficiently nuanced to achieve the objective of giving tenants more security without at the same time further reducing the number of homes available to rent.

In this latest Savills podcast, discussing the future of private renting, we hear from: Jane Cronwright-Brown, Savills head of lettings; Theresa Wallace, head of customer relations for lettings; and Lucian Cook, head of residential research.

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