Propertymark is reminding letting agents to prepare for the phased introduction of the mandatory Private Rental Database, which begins rolling out from mid-December. The guidance highlights that future stages will require landlords and rental properties to be registered before marketing, and that advertisements will need to display the relevant registration numbers.
The article argues that the latest Budget tax increase on rental income should be viewed by letting agents as a business opportunity rather than a setback. It says higher tax rates, alongside the Renters Rights Act and Making Tax Digital, will increase pressure on self-managing landlords and may drive more of them toward professional agency support.
New research indicates a sharp decline in Build To Rent starts-on-site across the UK, with Q3 2026 starts falling by more than 63% year on year while completions continued to outpace new starts. The article attributes the slowdown to viability pressures, including construction and financing costs, planning and regulatory delays, and the impact of taxes and levies on development economics.
HMRC is consulting on proposals for letting agents and tenancy deposit schemes to submit rental income data on a regular, structured digital basis rather than only in response to notices. The aim is to improve data quality, support tax administration and strengthen compliance activity, while seeking to keep any new burden proportionate.
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.
