Top concerns for small landlords in 2025 and how to overcome them

The English Private Landlord Survey is conducted on a regular basis to understand what large and small landlords, and letting agents, think about renting in the UK. It’s run by the Government, surveys thousands of landlords, and gives us our best, most impartial insights on what small landlords think about renting in Britain.

The last time a survey like this was done was in 2022, but with the threat of the Renters Rights Bill, rising mortgage rates, the growing role of the Build to Rent sector, and a new Party in Government, landlords are in a completely different situation than five years ago.

The survey covers a lot of landlords concerns, but we’ll go through the top seven:

1. Upcoming Legal Changes for Landlords

2. Recent tax changes

3. Tenant behaviour

4. Cost of repayments, repairs, and tenant arrears

Plus our practical advice on how to tackle each of them. 

And if you want more practical advice, try our landlord app free for the first month. August is the all-in-one app for small landlords, designed to tackle many of these problems to make renting as easy as possible. Download August now and get your first month for free. 

Upcoming legal changes for landlords

By a significant margin, the most common concern for landlords in 2025 is the confusion and challenges created by upcoming legal changes proposed by the Government.

This isn’t a surprise. The Government’s plans to abolish no-fault eviction will be extremely disruptive. Restrictions in how often you can raise rent, banning rent-in-advance contracts, and scrapping fixed term tenancies all mean it’s harder than ever to understand what you need to do to stay compliant as a landlord.

Preparing for upcoming legal changes for landlords

The easiest way to keep on top of changes in the law is to follow blogs like this one –

The Independent Landlord is especially good for helping landlords and property managers understand the changing legislation right now. Written by Suzannah Smith, their site gives clear, comprehensive information about the legal topics that matter most.

The NRLA also provides excellent resources, including helplines and support, for small landlords. There’s a small fee to join the NRLA, but the material they offer means you will avoid headaches and save time and money due to their practical tips for preparing your property.

But if you are preparing for upcoming legal changes but aren’t sure what you need to do to be ready for your specific property, you can use our app for small landlords, August, for bespoke advice on upcoming legal changes and existing legal requirements based on your rental. 

Simply download our app and use August Intelligence to write your question and get an immediate answer. Or add your tenancy information for advice tailored to your property. Try free for the first month.

Costly tax changes for rentals

The second largest concern for landlords were around recent tax changes, such as changes to mortgage interest relief and Capital Gains Tax (CGT).

Six out of ten landlords mentioned tax changes as a major concern in the English Private Landlord Survey. That went up to seven out of ten landlords, when only looking at those with five or more properties. But when almost every recent change in the past five years has led to higher costs for landlords, this isn’t much of a surprise.

Preparing for tax changes as a landlord

Keeping up with tax changes is a legal obligation for landlords, not just a best practice.

If you work with a financial advisor or similar expert, they can help you plan for your upcoming tax bill and what changes you can expect to come in the future that affect you specifically. They can also help you estimate what your future costs may look like, so you can plan ahead.

But, fortunately, there are plenty of other cheaper resources to help. Just under one in ten (9%) of landlords had attended a landlord event, forum or training, but these are a wonderful opportunity to learn. You can find answers to your property questions and learn about things you didn’t even know you needed to, helping you stay ahead of legal changes.

Our August app also can help prepare you for upcoming or existing tax requirements for your property, as well as providing you with advice about upcoming legislative changes. Download the app to ask August Intelligence your question and get our advice on your phone in moments.

Tenant behaviour

The third most common concern from landlords is tenant behaviour, mentioned by around 40% of all landlords. This can mean anything from antisocial behaviour or property damage, to missed rent payments, poor communication, or ignoring house rules. 

And with the proposed removal of Section 21, it’s understandable why landlords are especially anxious about how difficult it might become to deal with problematic tenants. Especially those managing just one or two properties and doing it all themselves.

How to manage tenant behaviour as a small landlord

The best defence against behavioural issues is a good screening process. Do proper reference checks. Ask for landlord feedback. And use solid application forms. Don’t worry about coming across as paranoid or overly nosey – you want a good quality, long term tenant, and it is reasonable to do your research before moving someone into your home.

Next, set expectations clearly. Spell things out in the tenancy agreement. Provide a welcome pack reminding tenants of the rules and useful information (like when bins are collected, what to do in case of a fire, and so on). Do regular check-ins (with notice), ideally twice a year. Ensure everyone is on the same page about what needs doing.

If you’re a small landlord, you can use the August app to communicate with your tenants about repairs or any issues facing your property and keep a proper log. But so long as you keep notes somewhere about the state of the property, and any complaints you have faced, you will find dealing with poor tenant behaviour much easier.

Dealing with surprise costs

Last on our list is dealing with surprise costs, which came up as a major concern for one in three landlords in the English Private Landlord Survey.

Those costs might be for anything from a broken boiler in winter to a tenant falling behind on rent. And these surprises can hit hard if you don’t have a plan.

How to deal with surprise costs as a small landlord

First things first, start putting aside at least 5% of your rental income each year for repairs, maintenance, and any surprise costs that pop up. Most repair work is tax-deductible (as long as it’s not a capital improvement), so keep your receipts and records in order.

Make sure you’ve also got solid landlord insurance in place, including accidental damage and rent protection, so you’re covered if things go wrong.

The longer you’re a landlord, the more likely you are to face unexpected costs and tenants expect fast action on most repairs. Know what needs fixing right away, and what can wait, but always communicate clearly.

P.S. Our August app helps small landlords stay on top of all of this, from tracking rent to logging repairs to getting instant advice. Download it now and get your first month free.

Disclaimer: This article is a guide and not intended to be relied upon as legal or professional advice, or as a substitute for it. August does not accept any liability for any errors, omissions or misstatements contained in this article. Always speak to a suitably qualified professional if you require specific advice or information.