Young renters shun legislation which could help them
Despite 51% of tenants aged 18-34 struggling with the stress of renting, a surprising 57% of them are hesitant to back increased regulation, such as the Renters' Rights Bill, research reveals.
The findings from Aldermore found that this compares to 71% of renters over 55 who support such measures.
It also says that the private rented sector is becoming a precarious place for younger tenants as a third of 18–34-year-olds (32%) have been forced to relocate in the past year. Of those, 24% say the main reason for moving was their landlord's decision to sell.
PRS trickier for landlords
Aldermore's director of mortgages, Jon Cooper, said: "The rental market has become a much trickier landscape to navigate, both for landlords and renters.
"Unfortunately, for younger renters, who are earlier in their wealth accumulation journey, we're seeing this group facing greater financial and emotional stress.
"Despite this, it's interesting younger renters are less likely to support greater regulation of the sector, like the Renters' Rights Bill, which would help to alleviate some of the pain points they face and provide them with greater support."
He added: "There's work to be done to ensure the private rented sector remains a viable environment for both renters and landlords , and any further regulation to increase transparency and support must be done in a way that is fair, proportionate and meaningful for all parties."
Renter moving costs
The upheaval in the PRS comes with a hefty price tag, with moving costs averaging £6,693.
Also, the shrinking supply of rental homes is exacerbating these challenges, leaving young renters in a constant state of flux, Aldermore says.
Financial strain is another burden for young renters, with 25% admitting to missing or delaying rent payments in the last 12 months, compared to 19% of all private renters.
Looking ahead, 64% of younger tenants fear that future rent rises will force drastic changes to their living arrangements, a concern shared by only 48% of older renters.
For many, the dream of homeownership feels increasingly out of reach, with 61% of 18–34-year-olds worried they'll never afford a property of their own.
Landlords exit to tighten supply
To underline the scale of landlords exiting the PRS, data from TwentyEA this week highlights a sharp rise in landlord sales.
It says that in Q1 2025, 15.6% of new property listings (70,542 out of 451,154) were previously rented homes, up from 9.8% in Q1 2024.
In Q4 2024, 12.2% of new listings (39,684 properties) were former rentals.
Of the properties sold in Q4 2024, only 2.9% (3,634) returned to the rental market, suggesting that around 18,000 homes have probably exited the sector since late 2024, further squeezing supply.
Landlord exodus reshapes the PRS
Simon Thompson, the managing director of Accommodation for Students, Simon Thompson, said: "There's no doubt that the exodus of landlords is reshaping the rental landscape, leaving younger tenants in a precarious position.
"This Aldermore survey is interesting because young tenants are preoccupied with finding a home to rent rather than tighter legislation.
"If the Renters' Rights Bill continues in its current form, young and old tenants - along with student tenants - will struggle as landlords leave."
He added: "There's good reason why the Bill is being described as the biggest shake up of the PRS for 30 years - and not all of it is good."
