Two major estate agency groups say the Renters’ Rights Act ban on rent in advance requests is creating unintended difficulties for some tenants, particularly overseas renters, international students and people with weaker credit profiles. They argue that, alongside the loss of Section 21, landlords are becoming more risk-averse and that guarantors may need to play a larger role as an alternative.
A flat-sharing service is urging the Chancellor to increase the UK Rent a Room tax-free threshold in the upcoming Budget, arguing that the current £7,500 limit is suppressing lodger supply. The article says lodger rooms are declining in the UK despite being cheaper than traditional rental rooms, and suggests a higher threshold could help unlock more underused bedrooms for the rental market.
Houseprice.AI analysis suggests around 161,000 privately rented homes in England may be unable to reach EPC band C even if all recommended improvements are carried out. The article also highlights that 53% of private rented homes are currently below band C, with a smaller but significant number already below the legal minimum band E.
Goodlord’s early findings suggest the Renters’ Rights Act is already making agents and landlords more cautious about tenant selection, with many landlords more likely to reject applicants or leave homes vacant while seeking lower-risk tenants. The report also indicates a widening sentiment gap, with tenants becoming more optimistic while landlords remain largely pessimistic, though less so than last year.
The article reports that more than half of letting agents have become more cautious about recommending tenants since the Renters’ Rights Act came into force. Goodlord says this reflects landlord concerns around the end of Section 21, limits on rent in advance and restrictions on bidding above asking rent, with some landlords now more likely to reject applicants or leave properties vacant while waiting for lower-risk tenants.
Early findings from Goodlord’s State of the Industry Report suggest landlords and letting agents are becoming more selective about tenant applications following the Renters’ Rights Act. The article says this is linked to changes including the end of Section 21, restrictions on rent in advance and the ban on over-bidding, with some landlords preferring to leave properties vacant rather than accept higher-risk applicants.
Lendlord has launched a Property Register tool to help landlords in England prepare for a forthcoming government rental property database and manage ongoing registration obligations. The tool compiles existing portfolio data, flags missing information and tracks deadlines ahead of a regional rollout beginning from mid-December.
The article reports that the Chancellor will not raise Capital Gains Tax in the upcoming Budget, avoiding a potential increase in landlords’ CGT liabilities. It also notes that landlords still face wider tax and regulatory changes, including higher property income tax rates from April 2027, expanded Making Tax Digital requirements, and reforms under the Renters’ Rights Act.
A property lawyer argues that reducing Stamp Duty on additional properties could help absorb the current backlog of former rental homes coming onto the market. The article links this supply overhang to the Renters Rights Act, the end of Section 21 no-fault evictions from May 2026, higher mortgage rates and weaker buyer demand, with Zoopla data suggesting flats are particularly affected in parts of England.
BBC Panorama has reported alleged misuse and poor standards within the Supported Exempt Accommodation sector, focusing on managing agents in Birmingham. The report says some providers may be claiming housing benefit for non-existent or non-resident tenants, while regulatory reforms passed in 2023 have yet to take practical effect.
A survey reported by August suggests that most landlords are unaware of the forthcoming landlord register and ombudsman linked to the Renters’ Rights Act. Awareness of other tenancy reforms is higher, but the article highlights a significant communication gap ahead of the planned rollout from December.
A survey of 276 landlords suggests awareness of the Renters Rights Act is relatively high in broad terms, but knowledge of the new private rented sector database and landlord ombudsman is much lower. The article argues that this gap in understanding could leave landlords exposed to penalties once registration becomes mandatory in England.
