RESEARCH: Agents confident but concerned in first months of Renters’ Rights Act
Summary
Goodlord’s latest State of the Lettings Industry report suggests lettings sentiment has improved since the Renters’ Rights Act came into force, but significant concerns remain around rent-in-advance restrictions, reduced rental availability and greater tenancy management uncertainty. The research indicates that some feared impacts, such as pets in lets, have been less severe than expected, while landlord exit from the sector is contributing to tighter supply.
Why it matters
Although the article focuses on lettings, the reported shift in landlord behaviour and rental supply affects wider residential market dynamics, including valuation assumptions and local availability. Surveyors working in residential property should be aware of the changing regulatory and market conditions influencing rental demand, void risk and investor sentiment.
Key points
- Pessimism among lettings agents has eased, falling from 48% to 40% over the past year.
- 59% of agents say restrictions on rent in advance have had a negative impact.
- Half of agents report declining rental availability, while 45% report rising tenant enquiries.
- 57% of landlords say the move away from fixed-term tenancies has been negative.
- 65% of landlords reducing or exiting portfolios cite the Renters’ Rights Act as the main reason.
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