The Renters’ Rights Bill creeps ever closer. We’re all aware of what the probable repercussions will be. The market will be upended, and many existing landlords are likely to sell up. What may catch some by surprise though is that what could end up coming to market may be particularly suited for first-time buyers, as opposed to landlords or property investors.
The latest English Private Landlord Survey (EPLS) suggested that 37% of landlords acquired their first rental property to live in themselves, according to analysis from Savills. This rises to 50% of landlords who hold just one property.
Landlords may end up selling homes that are already primed for those just getting on the ladder for the first time themselves. This bodes well for those who can take advantage of this for two reasons: first-time buyers are desperate for more suitable options, and their numbers may actually be set to rise.
Indeed, first-time buyer mortgage applications rose by 12.4% year-on-year in Q2 2025, vastly outpacing home mover sales. In fact, over the long-term, there is a clear upwards trajectory. Rightmove revealed that between 2015 and 2025, the number of prospective first-time buyers seeking to purchase their first home in a UK city rose by 16% on average. With the Bank of England loosening up mortgage rules to help first-time buyers, first-time buyer purchases could skyrocket over the coming months.
For property investors who are keeping an eye on the Renters Rights Bill’ and its fallout, this could lead to unprecedented opportunities. Fortunately, the specialist market is ready to help them take advantage of them.
For instance, refurbishment finance is there to help spruce up a home before it is sold on to the next generation of buyers. Some landlords may have acquired their first homes in the 80s or 90s and while it may have been pristine back then, tastes can change over time!
Or, if a first-time buyer also wants to make their first purchase a BTL asset, specialist lenders tend to be more open to first-time landlords than their mainstream counterparts. This is true of both bridging loans and bespoke BTL mortgages.
Of course, getting ahead of a potential wave of first-time buyers is but one opportunity that could emerge from the Renters’ Rights Bill, and/or other legislative changes. Regardless of how expanding investors plan to progress over the coming months, chances are the specialist lending market will be able to help them find a way forward.