This opinion piece argues that letting agents are becoming increasingly important as landlords face a more complex compliance environment, especially following the Renters’ Rights Act and the end of Section 21. It says agents who proactively manage tenancy paperwork, compliance checks and legislative change can reduce legal risk and should better demonstrate and charge for that value.
The article examines concerns raised about the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, arguing that greater control for unit holders may also bring significant financial, legal and governance responsibilities. It highlights that key operational details, including voting rights and dispute resolution, are expected to be set out in future regulations rather than in the bill itself.
New research cited by Rushbrook & Rathbone suggests average rental void periods in England have shortened since the Renters’ Rights Act was introduced in May, falling from a peak of 24 days to 21 days. The article says landlords are adapting to the new legal framework and using the period to improve compliance and portfolio management, although voids remain longer than a year ago in some areas.
Loc8me has appointed Wesley Brown as Chief Operating Officer to support further expansion, integrate recent acquisitions and maintain service standards across its student lettings portfolio. The company says it now manages almost 10,000 student bedrooms in 19 university cities and is investing in leadership to scale operations more effectively.
The Environment Agency has published guidance on the surrender of non-nuclear radioactive substances activity permits, covering both full and partial surrender. It explains the evidence operators must provide to show radioactive materials and waste have been removed and that necessary measures have been taken to avoid pollution risk before surrender is accepted.
Manchester’s rental market remains highly competitive, with properties letting faster even as asking rents continue to rise. The article attributes this to persistent demand outstripping supply, alongside early market effects from the Renters’ Rights Act and a shift toward more professional landlord management.
The Regulator of Social Housing has upgraded East Midlands Housing Group to a C1 consumer grade after finding improvements in tenant engagement, customer service and complaints handling. It also published a first consumer grade of C2 for Lancaster City Council, noting weaknesses in safety and quality, transparency and accountability, and a backlog of repairs that is being addressed.
LEASE has combined its lease length checker and lease extension calculator into a single online tool for leaseholders in England and Wales. The service is intended to help users assess remaining lease term, estimate extension costs and understand next steps, with LEASE highlighting that many owners only become aware of lease length issues when selling, remortgaging or extending.
The Environment Agency has published guidance on developing and maintaining a radioactive waste management plan for holders of radioactive substances activity permits dealing with waste from unsealed sources. The guidance sets out expectations for lifecycle planning, use of best available techniques, waste characterisation, record-keeping and maintaining control of radioactive waste until permits are surrendered.
The Environment Agency has published guidance on when non-nuclear radioactive substances activities require an environmental permit, how permits are applied for, and how they can be varied, transferred or surrendered. It explains the distinction between sealed and unsealed sources, and notes that some activities may be out of scope or exempt under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016.
The Environment Agency has published guidance on planning for the decommissioning of sites permitted for radioactive substances activities. It sets out a lifetime-planning approach, with decommissioning plans expected to develop over time and be proportionate to the scale, complexity and hazard of the site.
An Essex skip-hire operator and his company were sentenced after repeated Environment Agency warnings about an overflowing waste yard near Braintree were ignored. The site was found to be operating without the required environmental permit, with waste accumulation creating environmental, fire and human safety risks.
