The article reports that the government’s new mandatory Private Rental Sector database is due to launch in six weeks and may create operational and data security issues for letting agents. Guidance indicates agencies may help landlords complete and update property records, but password resets appear to require landlord intervention rather than being managed directly by agency staff.
The government has set out how letting agents can support the new mandatory Private Rental Sector Database, including completing registrations and updating property compliance information on behalf of landlords. It also confirms that landlords remain responsible for accuracy and timely updates, with registrations becoming inactive if required information is not submitted within 28 days.
Propertymark is partnering with Rent Smart Wales to run a webinar aimed at helping letting agents in Wales prepare for five-yearly regulatory audits. The session will focus on audit readiness, compliance processes and recent developments in Welsh private rented sector policy.
Goodlord’s latest State of the Lettings Industry Report says the Renters Rights Act is contributing to reduced rental supply, higher tenant enquiries and increased landlord exits from the private rented sector. The survey, based on 3,031 respondents, also suggests landlords are becoming more cautious about tenant selection due to restrictions on taking more than one month’s rent in advance.
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.
A Goodlord survey suggests tenant confidence and awareness of the Renters Rights Act are rising, with more renters reporting that they feel secure in their tenancy. The article also says tenants are beginning to use AI to help assert their rights, although the extract does not provide detail on specific behaviours or outcomes.
Dorset Council is hosting a free forum in Dorchester to brief landlords, letting agents and other property professionals on upcoming rental sector changes. The session will cover the new rental property registration service, early lessons from the Renters Rights Act, fair advertising practices and Making Tax Digital requirements.
The article argues that many letting agencies are investing in AI and PropTech too quickly, without first having clear processes or a properly designed operating model. Sally Lawson says automation can amplify existing weaknesses, especially as firms respond to tighter margins and the compliance demands associated with the Renters’ Rights Act.
The Resolution Foundation says Local Housing Allowance rates have fallen well behind private rents, creating a record affordability gap for low-income renters. It argues the Government should restore the annual link between LHA support and the 30th percentile of local rents in the upcoming Budget.
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.
Blinc-UK has launched a digital tenant referencing service priced at £8 per applicant, combining identity verification, Open Banking, HMRC income data and fraud screening in one report. The company says the product is designed to help letting agents respond to stronger tenant screening needs following the abolition of Section 21 under the Renters’ Rights Act.
