A senior lettings figure has backed the government’s proposed private rental sector database, arguing it should improve transparency, standards and tenant protection despite adding cost and administration for landlords. The article also notes that HMRC’s Valuation Office is set to handle challenges to rent increases in England, with current disputes still going to the First-tier Tribunal while the reforms are developed.
A leading lettings industry figure has backed the government’s proposed rental database, saying it could improve transparency and help tenants confirm that landlords are legitimate and compliant. However, she warns that the scheme’s success will depend on practical detail, including how agents can support landlords, how much manual input is required, and what information will be visible or kept private.
The article reports that national rental growth in England has remained broadly unchanged since the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act, but growth has accelerated in more than half of England’s regions. London and several northern regions have seen stronger increases, while some other regions have stagnated or slowed.
New research cited in the article suggests rental growth has accelerated in most regions of England since the Renters’ Rights Act was implemented in May, although the national average rate has remained unchanged. The strongest increases were reported in the West Midlands and North West, with London also showing faster rent growth and continued tenant demand.
An analysis by The Letting Partnership indicates that 8,553 homes are currently being marketed for sale with tenants in situ across England, representing 1.8% of available sales stock. The article highlights regional variation and notes that transactions involving tenanted properties require careful handling of deposits, rent ledgers and client money records to ensure a clean handover.
The article reports that a new national landlord registration service in England will launch on 15 December, beginning in the West Midlands and then rolling out regionally. Registration will become a legal requirement for landlords, with deadlines extending to November 2027, and future rules will also require registration of unoccupied properties before marketing. The piece also notes that HMRC’s Valuation Office will take over initial decisions on rent increase challenges, while tenants continue to use the First-tier Tribunal during the transition.
Propertymark says the enforcement burden on the private rented sector is increasing as the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 raises maximum civil penalties for relevant Housing Act offences and councils expand licensing schemes. The article also highlights forthcoming PRS Database requirements and the risk of rent repayment orders where properties are unlicensed.
Propertymark warns that landlords and letting agents are facing a more complex licensing environment, with higher civil penalties for Housing Act offences and expanding local licensing schemes across England. The article also highlights the forthcoming PRS Database and the risk of rent repayment orders where properties are left unlicensed.
Propertymark has urged Northern Ireland’s Department for Communities to revise the Warm Healthy Homes Fund so that support for private rented homes is based on the property’s energy efficiency rather than the tenant’s income. It argues that the current approach could exclude some of the least efficient homes from funding, even where improvement is most needed.
The article reports early evidence that landlords are increasing advertised rents in response to the Renters Rights Act, particularly because bidding wars are being banned and in-tenancy rent rises are harder to impose. It also argues that broader rental demand has normalised, with fewer enquiries per property and a market increasingly shaped by affordability and turnover rather than a fresh surge in demand.
Propertymark is warning letting agents and landlords that local licensing requirements are expanding while penalties for non-compliance have increased under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. The article highlights growing council consultations on selective and additional licensing, Article 4 Directions affecting HMOs, and the forthcoming PRS Database as part of a more complex regulatory landscape.
England’s register for short-term and holiday lets is set to be fully operational by March 2027, with the Government saying it will strengthen regulation and improve visibility over how homes are being used. The article also notes related policy changes affecting holiday lets, including the abolition of the Furnished Holiday Lets tax regime and wider local authority powers over second homes.
