Why Accidental Landlords Are Making a Surprise Return

Just like mullets and skinny jeans, accidental landlords are making a surprise comeback in 2026. Let’s look at why.

For years property experts claimed accidental landlords were facing extinction. But it turns out these predictions were somewhat premature. Rather than go the way of the dodo or woolly mammoth, the number of accidental landlords is actually increasing.

The Financial Times wrote late last year about “a growing sub-genre of accidental landlords”. And since then, the trend has continued.

But first, let’s be clear what an accidental landlord is.

An accidental landlord is anyone who becomes a landlord through circumstance rather than grand plan.

They’re not people with a burning ambition to build up a rental portfolio, but rather find themselves in the position of having an empty property that they don’t want to live in. They either inherit, or move to a new home for work or relationship reasons, and can afford to hold onto their existing property. They decide to rent out this empty property rather than sell it.

Why is the number of accidental landlords on the rise?

The main driver appears to be the changing dynamic in the sales market. Sluggish price growth means some people are opting to enter the rental market rather than accept a lower selling price than they want or expect. As rents are holding strong, it makes financial sense for them to let out their property and wait until the sales market shifts.

But can it really be that easy?

In short, no. Even if you’re fortunate enough to find yourself with an empty property to rent out, you can’t rely on luck to manage it.

Landlords must adhere to strict rules on deposits and safety standards. The Renters’ Rights Act, which came into force in May, also details how rent rises, requests to keep pets and evictions are to be carried out.

Then there’s insurance, tax and mortgages. (If the property you’re renting out has a mortgage, you also need to inform your lender who will probably insist you move onto a buy-to-let mortgage.)

So even if you become a landlord by accident, you need to plan and manage carefully to stay on the right side of the law, keep up with maintenance, and respond to tenant enquiries.

One way to do all this is to work with an experienced letting agent. They can handle much of the regulatory burden for you, and they’ll have a depth of experience in dealing with tenants that you can draw on. Over time, you’ll learn how the system works and what’s required. But in your early days as a landlord, it can be much less risky and more profitable to work with an expert.

If you’d like to know more about how we help landlords maintain and grow their property portfolios, get in touch with us today.