Most private renters exit tenancies by choice NOT eviction

The majority of renters (63%) end their tenancy by choice, rather than due to eviction, according to new figures from the English Housing Survey.

The data published by the government and collected before the Renters’ Rights Act came into force covers 2024-2025, a full year before the Act came into effect.

The data reveals the majority of tenants are happy living in the private rented sector.

Only 14% asked to leave by landlord

According to the English Housing Survey, in 2024–25, the majority of private renters (63%) said their tenancy ended because they wanted to move.

Only 14% said they were asked to leave by their landlord or letting agent, and 2% ended their tenancy due to a poor relationship with their landlord.

Among private renters who moved from one tenancy to another, the most common reason for moving was wanting a larger property (24%), followed by job-related reasons (23%).

Less than 5% moved due to not getting on with their landlord, being unable to afford mortgage payments or rent, or wanting a smaller home.

More tenants moved for personal reasons, including wanting a better neighbourhood (20%) or to live closer to friends or relatives (8%), than for landlord-related reasons, such as being asked to leave (13%) or not getting on with their landlord (4%).

The survey also reveals landlords selling their properties, with more than half (57%) of private renters whose tenancy ended in the last three years saying their landlord asked them to leave because they wanted to sell the property or use it themselves.

Positive views about PRS

The survey also reveals that tenants expressed positive views about the private rented sector.

Most tenants reported feeling safe from eviction (79%), while many also felt their housing situation was stable enough to support long-term planning (68%), encouraged them to invest in their community (66%), and gave them a sense of home (80%).

The survey also found that the most common tenancy type among private renters was an assured shorthold tenancy, with 86% holding this type of agreement.

The Renters’ Rights Act has removed assured shorthold tenancies and prevented assured tenancies from having fixed terms.

As previously reported by Property118, industry experts have warned that the abolition of fixed-term tenancies could create chaos, particularly for student landlords.