The Renters Reform Bill has dominated property headlines for months, but we can now look at how the Renters Rights Bill is reshaping opportunity. Depending on who you listen to, it’s either the end of the private rental sector as we know it or a long-overdue reset. For many landlords, the uncertainty has been unsettling. But beneath the noise, something else is happening.
Quietly, confidently, experienced investors are asking a very different question:
“Why didn’t I add to my portfolio sooner?”. This isn’t a market in decline. It’s a market in transition.
The legislation does bring change. Higher standards, clearer rules and greater accountability are now part of being a landlord. For some, that feels like a step too far. For others, it’s simply the cost of doing business properly. And it’s that divide which is reshaping opportunity.
As a number of landlords choose to exit the market, rental supply is tightening. Properties are coming to market not because demand has fallen, but because some owners no longer want to adapt. Accidental landlords, those who overstretched during low-interest years, or owners unwilling to meet new compliance requirements are deciding to sell.
For buyers who understand the fundamentals, that creates opportunity
At Curlett Jones, we’re seeing growing interest from investors who are taking a longer-term view. They’re not panicking. They’re analysing. They understand that fewer rental properties combined with consistent tenant demand changes the balance of power. Well-located, well-presented homes are becoming more valuable assets, not less.
Despite the headlines, rental demand across Merseyside remains strong. Population growth hasn’t slowed. New housing supply remains limited. Professional tenants are staying put for longer, often choosing to rent close to transport, amenities and employment rather than stretching themselves to buy. In many areas, rents have continued to rise steadily, while purchase prices have stabilised. That combination is quietly improving yields for buyers entering the market now.
The numbers still work. They just need to be approached properly
What’s changed is the type of investor succeeding in 2026. The most successful landlords Curlett Jones works with aren’t chasing speculative gains or quick flips. They’re focused on resilience. They’re buying homes in areas with genuine, long-term demand. Walkable neighbourhoods. Strong transport links. Energy-efficient properties that appeal to modern tenants. Homes that let easily and stay let.
They understand that regulation rewards preparation. Buying the wrong property in the wrong location is now more costly than ever. Overpaying, misjudging tenant demand or underestimating compliance can turn a solid investment into a stressful one.
This is where local expertise matters more than it has in years.
Curlett Jones works closely with investors to identify areas that continue to perform, avoid problematic stock and understand what tenants are actually looking for on the ground, not just on paper. We’re seeing a clear split between investors who buy with strategy and those who look at how the renters rights bill is reshaping opportunity to buy on assumption. The outcomes are very different.
In a more regulated market, good advice isn’t a luxury. It’s essential. For some investors, the Renters Reform Bill has been the reason to step back. For others, it’s been the prompt to step forward. Those who act with knowledge, patience and the right guidance are finding that opportunity hasn’t disappeared, it’s simply changed shape.
it’s often those who waited on the sidelines who now look back and say, “I wish I’d done this sooner.”
Considering Your Next Investment? Let’s Talk Strategy
Whether you’re expanding an existing portfolio or considering your first buy-to-let, timing matters, but knowledge matters more. Speak to Curlett Jones Estate Agents for informed, practical advice on buying investment property in today’s changing market. With the right guidance, opportunity is still very much there to be found.
