In May 2021, LettingaProperty.com surveyed 20,000 UK landlords to better understand their experience of letting property: their motivations, opinions, challenges and concerns. Renting out property can be demanding at times, but what exactly do landlords find most stressful? The survey findings below still ring true today, even though the legal picture has since been reshaped by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.
- How do landlords handle finding good tenants?
- Why do maintenance issues cause landlords stress?
- How do landlords manage their legal responsibilities?
- Is COVID-19 a cause of stress for landlords?
- How can we help?
Landlord Causes of Stress: Finding good tenants
73% of landlords said finding good tenants was moderately or extremely difficult (UK Landlord Survey 2021). This can certainly be a tricky part of the process, especially for first-timers or landlords needing to find a tenant quickly.
The first step to finding good tenants is creating a high-quality advert. If your listing doesn’t do your property justice, your chances are already limited. Clear photos, a well-written description, and setting a realistic and competitive rental price will mean your property is well placed to attract the right tenants.
Whilst the advert should showcase your property, it must also be honest and accurate. There’s no point only showing photos of the best rooms or ‘forgetting’ to mention that the garden is shared. Sure, you might get more enquiries, but if a tenant arrives and the property is not as expected, it’s a waste of everyone’s time.
Landlords should carefully consider their specific tenant criteria. If you’re looking for students, don’t want smokers, or would prefer no pets in your rental, clearly state this in the property description.
Choosing tenants
Once enquiries start coming in, choosing a tenant can be particularly stressful. Deciding who will live in your property for the next 12 months or more is a big decision, and there are many factors to consider.
Can they afford the rent? Will they look after the property? Do they seem keen or will they change their mind? All these things need to be considered when picking your tenant.
When assessing affordability, comprehensive reference checks certainly provide some reassurance for landlords. Tenants must provide a 6-year credit history, employment reference, and proof they can afford the rent. Plus, they’ll need a positive landlord reference to prove they paid their rent on time and treated the property well.
A holding deposit will also confirm the tenant’s interest before they move in. With the Tenant Fee Ban, some landlords may worry about taking money from tenants before they sign the tenancy agreement, but a holding deposit (one week’s rent) to secure the property is perfectly legal and encouraged.
It may seem daunting for landlords to manage the entire lettings process, particularly once tenants are involved and issues may arise, but 36% of survey respondents do just that. On the flip-side, just 19% said their agent manages everything for them. And with two-thirds having let property for more than five years, it seems most landlords see value in managing the whole process – and enjoying the cost and control benefits that follow.
Landlord Causes of Stress: Handling maintenance issues
Solving maintenance issues can be a significant cause of stress for landlords. Keeping the property and the tenant safe is a landlord responsibility, but arranging maintenance work can be tricky, particularly for emergencies that require a fast response.
59% of landlords revealed they found managing maintenance issues to be moderately or extremely difficult. Getting a good price from contractors proved most challenging, with 78% of landlords finding this difficult. A close second was finding a reliable contractor at 72% (UK Landlord Survey 2021).
Preparing a list of reliable tradespeople makes things much easier. We recommend having at least two dependable professionals for each maintenance area. Whether a plumber, electrician or gardener, relying on a single contractor is risky. And if they’re good at their job, they aren’t likely to be available at short notice.
Find trusted local tradespeople with Bark.
If it’s a big emergency – like a burst pipe or broken boiler – having maintenance handled for you is a real lifesaver. With our Complete Care plan, repairs can be reported 24/7 and a trusted contractor is arranged, without your tenant needing to chase you.
Landlord Causes of Stress: Knowing your legal responsibilities
When deciding to let property, most landlords tend to know there are significant legal implications. But understanding the full scope of these responsibilities, and the specific actions required, is far from straightforward.
With over 125 laws applying to the rental sector alone, knowing the ‘ins and outs’ of your legal duties can be challenging, particularly for first-time landlords. From property licencing and deposit protection, to safety inspections and notice periods – there’s a lot to remember.
The good news is, landlords aren’t expected to know every piece of legislation. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t overwhelming. In fact, 58% of landlords find it difficult to fully understand their legal responsibilities (UK Landlord Survey 2021).
It’s one thing to know the current laws, but new rental legislation is introduced all the time. The biggest shake-up in a generation is the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. In England it abolishes Section 21 “no-fault” evictions and fixed-term assured tenancies from 1 May 2026, moves every tenancy onto a rolling periodic basis, bans rental bidding wars, caps rent in advance at one month, and strengthens a tenant’s right to request a pet. Keeping pace with changes like these is a big part of why so many landlords find their legal duties daunting.
Where your property is also matters, because renting law is devolved. The Renters’ Rights Act applies to England. Wales runs its own system under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, with occupation contracts and Rent Smart Wales registration, while Scotland uses private residential tenancies under the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016 and its own housing tribunal. Let on both sides of a border and you effectively have more than one rulebook to follow.
The best thing for landlords to do is to stay updated. Subscribing to newsletters, reading articles and joining landlord forums are a great way to stay in the know. Things may get overlooked and honest mistakes do happen; just be sure to take all necessary steps to comply once you are aware.
Landlord Causes of Stress: The Impact of COVID-19
The pandemic has been a source of stress for everyone. When the national lockdown was announced, the property market ground to a halt. High-street agents shut up shop and in-person viewings stopped, while maintenance and inspections were severely delayed.
Landlords and tenants were eventually given formal guidance, but the constant updates – alongside chaotic lockdown restrictions, furlough and rumours of ‘rent holidays’ – were difficult to manage. 18% of landlords reported issues with rent payments, and 10% found it difficult to find tenants during this time (UK Landlord Survey 2021). Despite these difficulties, 44% of landlords felt that COVID-19 had no significant impact on their landlord life (UK Landlord Survey 2021).
Related article: Lockdown at LettingaProperty.com: How Our Rent Claims Stayed Below 2%
There’s no denying that COVID-19 reshaped the rental sector. The immediate disruption has long since passed, and the sector’s focus has moved on to a new wave of change led by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. But our survey showed that landlords are a resilient bunch, capable of adapting to the most challenging circumstances. It also suggests that letting property remains a strong proposition, both as an income generator and long-term investment, even in tough times.
Landlord Causes of Stress: How we can help
In our survey, 43% of landlords told us that receiving a consistent monthly recurring revenue was their number one priority, while 26% said hassle-free property letting was their main aim. Landlords trusting LettingaProperty.com with their rental property can achieve both these goals and much more.
Our Rent Assured and Complete Care plans include rent protection, meaning your rent is covered even if your tenant does not pay. Landlords also get the information, tools and support to let their property efficiently and professionally, including advertising on Rightmove, comprehensive referencing, tenancy agreements, deposit security and legal advice.
To find out how we can help you, book a quick call.
Landlord Stress FAQs
What do landlords find most stressful?
In our 2021 UK Landlord Survey of 20,000 landlords, the biggest stress points were finding good tenants (73% found it moderately or extremely difficult), managing maintenance issues (59%) and understanding legal responsibilities (58%).
Has the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 made being a landlord more stressful?
The Act is the biggest change in a generation. In England it abolishes Section 21 “no-fault” evictions and fixed-term assured tenancies from 1 May 2026, bans rental bidding wars and caps rent in advance at one month. Staying compliant takes more attention, but the fundamentals of good letting are unchanged, and up-to-date guidance or a managed service keeps the workload down.
How can landlords reduce stress?
Advertise your property well and reference tenants thoroughly, keep two trusted tradespeople for each type of job (or a plan that handles maintenance for you), stay on top of legislation, and consider a rent protection or fully managed plan so your income and compliance are handled for you.
Do landlord rules differ in Scotland and Wales?
Yes. The Renters’ Rights Act applies to England. Wales uses the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 with occupation contracts and Rent Smart Wales registration, and Scotland uses private residential tenancies under the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016. Obligations and notice periods vary, so always check the rules for the nation your property is in.
What stresses you out?
What do you find the most stressful aspect of being a landlord? Do you agree with the findings from our survey? Do any of the results surprise you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
