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14/7/25 8:13 pm
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More than two-thirds (68%) of UK landlords have discovered their tenants renting out the property without permission.
New research from Direct Line business insurance reveals that secret sublets come to light through neighbours reporting unusual activity or frequent new faces at the property (31%), closely followed by routine landlord inspections (28%) and complaints from other residents about noise or damage (24%).
Landlords are also taking to the internet to check for illegal subletting, as 15% found evidence online or via social media after suspecting something unusual, while 20% spotted their property listed on a rental website such as SpareRoom, Airbnb or Gumtree.
Despite the prevalence of secret subletting, nearly half of landlords (43%) conduct routine property checks every six months, while three quarters (74%) inspect their property at least once a year.
When discovering a secret sublet, most landlords issued a formal warning to the tenant (34%) or reported the situation to a letting agent and property manager (30%), while 26% allowed the sublet to continue under new terms or with freshly written permission, and 27% took legal advice but did not act further.
However, some landlords took a stricter approach, as 27% either immediately told the subtenant to leave and 25% started eviction proceedings against the original tenant.
Jonny McHugh, head of landlord at Direct Line business insurance, says although not all landlords are opposed to subletting, the security of knowing who’s living in their property and that the right checks are in place are important. “In this case, being upfront with tenants about what is allowed, and putting clear agreements in writing, can help prevent misunderstandings and protect everyone involved,” he adds.
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