A survey by The Letting Partnership suggests letting agents expect the Renters Rights Act to increase compliance and administrative demands across the private rented sector. Most respondents believe this added complexity will make professional agents more valuable to landlords.
The article reports a call for government action on an estimated £750m in unclaimed tenancy deposits held within the deposit protection system. It argues that England and Wales lack a clear legal framework for dormant deposits, unlike Scotland, and that this creates a transparency and governance gap in the sector.
A survey of lettings professionals reports that the Renters Rights Act has significantly increased administrative workload, with compliance and record keeping identified as the main pressure point. Respondents also highlighted fragmented technology, more manual data handling, and concerns about keeping up with compliance while maintaining profitability.
Ealing Council is inviting landlords and tenants to a free workshop on how HMOs affect local communities and neighbourhoods. The event runs alongside a consultation on whether to extend additional licensing for smaller HMOs for a further five years from April 2027.
LRG reports that most tenants are unaware of professional guarantor services, despite these becoming more relevant in the rental application process. The research also suggests landlords are increasingly likely to ask for guarantors where affordability is marginal, with rent guarantee insurance emerging as a growing alternative.
Tribunal activity over market rent disputes has risen sharply since the Renters’ Rights Act came into force, with tenants bringing a growing share of cases. Legal commentators say the change is shifting the balance of power towards tenants and increasing the importance of evidence-based rent setting and strict procedural compliance.
An analysis of 144 English councils suggests planning refusals for HMOs have more than doubled over the past five years, alongside tighter licensing and wider use of Article 4 directions. The article argues that while councils are targeting poor-quality accommodation, blanket restrictions may also be reducing the supply of well-managed shared housing.
The article reports rising losses from impersonation scams, with criminals increasingly using sophisticated tactics and AI-enabled methods to bypass verification checks. An AML expert argues that current identity and compliance controls are not keeping pace, creating both financial harm and legal exposure for regulated firms.
Tenant advocacy groups are pressing the government to expand the forthcoming Private Rented Sector database so it includes more landlord and tenancy data, including rents, eviction grounds and enforcement history. They argue the database should support tenant challenges, improve transparency and help enforcement of the Renters’ Rights Act, while also proposing a landlord fee to fund local authority enforcement.
A Goodlord snap poll suggests landlords are finding it harder to regain possession since Section 21 evictions were abolished under the Renters Rights Act in May. The article says Section 8 is now the only route to possession, with longer notice periods and court delays adding to the time and administrative burden, alongside rising compliance costs and more cautious tenant vetting.
The article reports claims that some landlords and letting agents are attempting to work around the Renters Rights Act by seeking one-off payments or by advertising rents above market levels and then inviting lower offers. It argues these practices may be designed to offset restrictions on fixed-term tenancies and bidding wars under the new regime.
Propertymark says many Welsh landlords receiving fixed penalty notices have failed to complete the correct Rent Smart Wales registration and licensing steps. The article stresses that registration and licensing are separate obligations, and that agents should verify both status and keep records up to date before undertaking regulated work.
