Recent analysis from Zoopla has revealed a striking reality about the UK housing market—almost half of homes listed for sale over the past three years have failed to secure a buyer. For many homeowners, this may come as a surprise. After all, property has long been seen as one of the most reliable assets.

With new legislation coming into force from 1 May 2026, tenants across the private rented sector will have the legal right to request permission to keep a pet, & crucially, landlords will no longer be able to unreasonably refuse. While this marks a positive step for animal lovers, it also reshapes the way tenancies are assessed, agreed, & managed.

Recent headlines have painted a picture of landlords rushing to evict tenants ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act—but the reality, looks different. New research suggests that just 1 in 10 landlords (9%) who are actively asking tenants to leave are doing so directly because of the upcoming legislative changes. So, what is happening behind the scenes?

For tenants, April is a useful point to pause and plan. With rents still rising across the UK and the first phase of rental reform approaching in England, this is a good time to review your budget, renewal options and next move.