Landlord possession claims rise
Monday 24th August, 2026
Landlord possession claims in England and Wales rose 6% year on year, while bailiff repossessions fell 3% in the second quarter of 2026.
This gives Rightmove a natural chance to comment on how changing rental laws and supply affect renters and landlords across the UK.
Why have we flagged this?
Rising landlord possession claims and changes following the Renters’ Rights Act are highly relevant to your landlord and rental audience, allowing you to share rental-market data or expert context.
Get reactive idea inspiration
Thinking...
These are starting points for inspiration, not finished ideas.
Expert comment
Explain why possession claims are not the same as evictions
Position the figures as evidence of pressure in the legal process, not proof that 23,635 households lost their homes.
Expert comment angle: Have a Rightmove property expert tell BBC News and consumer journalists that the widening gap between claims and repossessions shows renters need clearer timelines, not headline confusion.
Why: It adds essential context to a misleadingly alarming statistic and gives journalists a useful expert interpretation.
Data idea
Track searches for rental rights terms
Measure whether searches on Rightmove for terms such as ‘Section 21’ and ‘notice to quit’ changed after the Renters’ Rights Act began.
Data to investigate: Analyse your internal website search data to identify the biggest year-on-year change for one rental-rights search term.
Why: It reveals how the legal change is affecting renters’ information needs using a direct, relatable consumer behaviour signal.
Newsjack
Create a plain-English possession timeline
Turn the claims and repossessions figures into a simple visual showing what can happen from notice to bailiff action.
Newsjack angle: Create a shareable England-and-Wales renter guide within days and offer it exclusively to the BBC, MoneySavingExpert or Which?.
Why: The story creates immediate public confusion, and a trusted visual explanation gives consumer journalists a practical service angle.