Can I sell my buy-to-let property after 1st May 2026?

Are you a landlord in Chichester or Bognor Regis? Do you rent out a property in the surrounding villages or coastal neighbourhoods? Right about now, you might be wondering if your future lies in buy-to-let.

Seismic changes imminent

It was way back in 2019 that West Sussex’s rental market started to take shape, with the then Prime Minister, Theresa May, announcing her intention to ban so-called ‘no fault’ Section 21 evictions.

What followed was the Conservative’s Renters’ Reform Bill, which was lost when 2024’s General Election was called, followed by Labour’s more radical and robust Renters’ Rights Bill. That Bill became an Act in October 2025 and the majority of its contents will be implemented on 1^st May 2026.

Headwinds prompting reviews

The Act’s introduction is against a fairly punitive backdrop. Buy-to-let mortgages rates are higher now compared to five years ago, which is particularly restrictive for landlords whose fixed-rate deals are coming to an end. Additionally, landlords in Chichester, Bognor Regis and across West Sussex will pay more tax on their rental income from 2027, thanks to 2025’s Budget. Finally, landlords are having to switch to Making Tax Digital, which frequently comes with an added subscription cost as well as an accountancy learning curve.

The effect of the Renters’ Rights Act

The Act is designed to make the private rental market fairer and safer for tenants, emboldening renters with more rights and protection but what is the upshot for landlords? In summary, it’ll become tougher to evict tenants, impossible to capitalise on demand when agreeing rents and more challenging to select a tenant, with increasing amounts of compliance and less security for landlords.

As estate agents, White & Brooks fully supports any measures that lead to a safer, fairer private rental market but we are speaking to landlords who feel the developing landscape is a step too far. For many, thoughts are turning to selling up and exiting buy-to-let, especially if rentals are just about breaking even or a remortgage is on the cards.

More landlords exiting the market

If you are considering selling a buy-to-let you own in Chichester, Bognor Regis or another West Sussex location, you are not alone. The swing towards selling buy-to-let properties has been building for some time.

In the first quarter of 2024, data produced by TwentyEA found 9.8% of new instructions listed on the sales market were being sold by landlords. That’s formerly rented properties being taken out of circulation. Fast forward a year and in the first quarter of 2025, that figure was 15.6%.

So, where are we one year on? In February 2026, the sales market saw a surge of new listings. In fact, the number of homes on the market stood at a 10-year high and there was a certain seller behind the trend. Zoopla’s Executive Director, Richard Donnell, noted the uptick was partly fuelled by buy-to-let owners looking to offload their investments before regulatory changes took hold.

Can I sell my buy-to-let after 1^st May 2026?

There is some disinformation swirling that suggests landlords will not be able to sell their buy-to-lets after 1^st May 2026. That isn’t true. While there has been a change to the timing of selling a buy-to-let, landlords will retain the right to sell their property.

The details landlords need to know

From 1^st May 2026, the way landlords can regain their buy-to-let in order to sell with vacant possession will change. The details are:

• Section 21 eviction notices will no longer be available
• The only way for a landlord to regain vacant possession will be by issuing a Section 8 eviction notice
• If the landlord is regaining possession in order to sell the property, they will need to use the new Ground 1A – sale of a dwelling house
• For new tenancies created on or after 1^st May, the landlord can’t service a Section 8 notice within the first 12 months of the tenancy
• After 12 months of a tenancy have passed, the landlord will need to give four months’ notice before they are able to apply to the court for a possession order

Sell to a keen market

White & Brooks is registering a number of new buyers across Chichester, Bognor Regis and West Sussex, as well as from outside of the county. We’re seeing an increase in first-timer buyers due to favourable mortgage lending for those with more modest deposits. The good news? First-timer buyers are best suited to ex-buy-to-let properties so if you’re a landlord considering selling, a purchasing audience is waiting.

Our team is on hand to provide landlords with no-obligation valuations and selling advice. Speak to an estate agent at your local White & Brooks branch about a possible buy-to-let exit.