Prime London rents rose at their fastest annual pace in 18 months in September, with average rental values up 4.6% year on year, according to LonRes. At the same time, lets agreed fell and new instructions edged up, while the consultancy said the Renters Rights Act is influencing supply, demand and pricing in the prime market.
A lettings agency reports that the Renters Rights Act is already changing landlord behaviour in Prime Central London, with more owners seeking sales and lettings valuations when tenancies end. The article also notes stronger tenant demand, record high rents in some areas, and a shift in short-let and longer-let activity as landlords adapt to the new rules.
Safeagent has criticised the effectiveness of Trading Standards and NTSELAT in dealing with a letting agency that allegedly continued to display safeagent branding after its accreditation and Client Money Protection cover had been withdrawn. The article argues that delays and limited enforcement action may have left landlords and consumers exposed to misleading claims about protection and compliance.
Winkworth reports that the Renters Rights Act is already affecting landlord decisions, with many owners seeking sales valuations when a tenant gives notice because a new tenancy cannot be ended for sale purposes within the first 12 months. The article also highlights continued strength in Prime Central London lettings, rising demand for rental stock, and record rents in some high-value areas.
Propertymark says recent First-tier Tribunal decisions show that landlords and agents need robust, property-specific evidence to justify rent increases. The cases indicate that tribunals place greater weight on detailed comparisons, inspection evidence, and agreed rents than on advertised asking rents alone.
Research cited in the article suggests that letting agents are increasingly concerned about financial fraud, with AI-enabled impersonation and deepfake scams now viewed as the biggest emerging threat to client money safeguards. A significant minority of respondents lack full confidence in their ability to detect suspicious transactions before funds are transferred, and many have encountered attempted fraud in the past year.
Research cited in the article suggests a significant proportion of letting agents lack confidence in identifying suspicious client money transactions, with more than a third saying they could not reliably spot fraud. The report also indicates that agents perceive fraud risk to be increasing, with AI-enabled impersonation and deepfake scams seen as a growing threat alongside more traditional phishing and landlord or tenant impersonation.
Independent Age says the freeze on Local Housing Allowance is leaving many older private renters unable to cover rent from Housing Benefit, forcing them to use limited pension income for essentials. The charity argues that rising rents, particularly for one-bed homes, are worsening affordability pressures and increasing the risk of poor health and homelessness among older tenants.
The article argues that letting agencies that are not adopting AI are falling behind competitors, with AI increasingly used to reduce admin and free up staff time. Sally Lawson, former ARLA president and founder of Agent Rainmaker, says AI cannot replace leadership or relationship-building, but can support agencies as rental reform changes the sector.
Propertymark is advising letting agents that rent increase proposals must be supported by robust evidence, accurate property descriptions and clear records of condition. Recent First-tier Tribunal decisions in several locations show that tribunals place greater weight on comparable evidence from completed lettings, detailed property characteristics and proof of inspection or repairs.
The article reports that asking rents have risen by 6% across 21 major UK towns and cities in the three months since the Renters’ Rights Act came into force, according to a Ringley Group study. It also says a significant share of private landlords have sold or tried to sell in the past year, contributing to a shrinking private rented sector and prompting calls for Budget measures to support rental-sector viability.
Pegasus Insight research indicates that landlord use of lettings agents has risen to a two-year high, with two thirds now using an agent for some or all of the letting process. The increase is being driven mainly by demand for full property management, as landlords face growing regulatory complexity and higher time commitments in managing rental portfolios.
