More than half of landlords have lost rental income due to COVID-19

New research from the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) shows over half of private landlords have lost rental income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the results, a third of landlords have also indicated that they are now more likely to either leave the market entirely or sell some of their properties.

Interim findings from the NRLA’s survey for the fourth quarter of 2020 have found that 56% had lost rental income as a result of the pandemic, with 12% having lost more than 20% of that income.

Of all those who had lost rental income, 22% had lost more than £5,000 and 59% had lost more than £1,000. 36% said that the losses are continuing to increase.

The results also show that 26% of respondents had lost non-rental income because of the pandemic, with 12% having lost more than 20% of this. Of those who had lost non-rental income, 41% have lost more than £1,000, with 20% having lost more than £5,000.

Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the NRLA, has commented on the interim results: “Although most landlords have done everything they can to help tenants affected as a result of the pandemic, we have now reached the end of what they are able to do.

“Simply continuing to ban repossessions just means that tenants struggling to pay their rent are accumulating more debt reducing the chances that they will be able to pay it off. This ultimately will put more renters at risk of losing their homes.

“Ministers need to develop a proper plan to sustain tenancies and help the rental market recover. This needs to include a financial package to enable tenants to pay off any arrears built as a direct result of the pandemic.”