A Goodlord survey of the private rental sector reports that the move away from fixed-term tenancies is seen by landlords as the most damaging element of the Renters Rights Act. The article also notes that the Act has made it illegal for landlords to take more than one month’s rent in advance, which the report suggests is contributing to greater caution in tenant selection.
The article reports strong criticism from lettings professionals after the Budget announced an additional 2% tax on income from property revenue from next spring, on top of a previously announced 2% rise. Commentators argue that the combined tax increase, alongside wider regulatory change, could accelerate landlord exits, reduce rental supply and put upward pressure on rents.
Propertymark is urging the Chancellor to use the Budget to review the cumulative tax burden on private landlords, including mortgage interest relief, Capital Gains Tax and additional-property Stamp Duty. It also calls for wider reform of property taxation, energy-efficiency incentives and Local Housing Allowance uprating to support market stability and rental supply.
New YouGov research commissioned by Safeguard Europe suggests damp and mould remain widespread in UK homes, with private renters and council tenants reporting the highest incidence. The article also references the introduction of Awaab’s Law for social landlords in England and notes that the Renters Rights Act 2025 could allow the regime to be extended to private landlords in future.
The article reports concerns from property industry figures that further tax changes in the Budget could accelerate exits from the private rented sector, particularly among smaller landlords. It argues that rising costs, regulatory pressures and uncertainty over future taxation may drive consolidation, with larger professional operators better placed to absorb portfolios.
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.
A London landlord, Nirpaul Riat, has reportedly been stripped of his OBE following a successful prosecution by Hounslow Council. The case involved unlawful conversion of houses into flats and the letting of outbuildings in poor conditions to vulnerable occupants, with earlier enforcement action against the same individual dating back to 2009.
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 lettings software provider has questioned whether the forthcoming Private Rented Sector Database will effectively identify rogue landlords, arguing that compliant landlords and agents may bear most of the administrative and cost burden. The database is due to begin rolling out in December, starting in the West Midlands, with landlords required to register properties region by region over an 18-month period and pay an annual fee per property.
