A Landbay survey of around 2,000 landlords suggests the Renters Rights Act is already influencing landlord behaviour, with some increasing rents, tightening tenant referencing and using more professional support. The findings also indicate that a significant minority are reconsidering portfolio expansion or sale decisions, while awareness of forthcoming landlord registration requirements is high but understanding remains uneven.
A new study cited by Landlord Today says 17.7% of landlords have annual rental income above £50,000, placing them within the current scope of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. The article also notes that the threshold will reduce to £30,000 in April 2027 and £20,000 in April 2028, which will bring more landlords into quarterly digital reporting requirements.
Mansfield Council is funding further work to assess whether Article 4 planning controls should be introduced to restrict the spread and concentration of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). The council says the evidence will inform whether targeted planning controls are justified in specific areas, with concerns cited around housing mix, parking, antisocial behaviour, waste and property conditions.
The government has published guidance for landlords on the information required for the new mandatory Private Rental Sector Database. Rollout begins in two months, with landlords required to pay a £65 per-property registration fee and provide further details within 28 days or risk deactivation of their property registration.
Lancaster Council is hosting a landlord forum to brief the private rented sector on the Government’s new rental property registration scheme under the Renters Rights Act. The article says landlords in the North West will need to register properties from 15 May 2027, with a deadline of 14 August 2027 and an annual fee of £65 per property.
The government has indicated that the existing Housing Ombudsman Service is intended to operate the new Private Rental Sector Ombudsman, which will provide mandatory redress for private landlords. However, landlords will not be required to join immediately, as further regulations will set out the scope and timing of membership once the scheme is prepared for designation.
A Goodlord survey suggests tenant confidence and awareness of the Renters Rights Act are rising, with many renters feeling more secure in their tenancies. The article also claims some tenants are using AI to help generate complaints and make use of their new rights, based on responses from landlords, lettings professionals and tenants.
A Goodlord survey suggests tenants are increasingly aware of and confident in the Renters Rights Act, with reported rises in perceived tenancy security and optimism. The report also indicates that renters are beginning to use the new rights more actively, including with the help of AI, while still feeling financial pressure.
The OBR’s latest Budget analysis paints a subdued outlook for the housing market, warning that higher property income tax on landlords could reduce rental supply and put upward pressure on rents over time. It also forecasts modest house price growth, higher mortgage rates, and weaker housing supply, with regulatory and fiscal changes cited as adding cost and complexity to residential development.
The article reports industry criticism of the Budget’s further 2% increase in property income tax rates, with landlords and advisers warning it could reduce private rental supply and push rents higher. The Office for Budget Responsibility is cited as saying the combined tax changes may materially reduce landlord returns and encourage some landlords to exit the market.
Propertymark is urging the Government to use the Budget to review property taxation across the housing market, with particular focus on the cumulative burden on private landlords and the effects of Stamp Duty, Capital Gains Tax and related charges. It also calls for more practical support for energy-efficiency improvements and for Local Housing Allowance to better reflect local rents.
Southend Council has opened a consultation on a replacement selective licensing scheme for privately rented homes, with the current five-year scheme due to expire on 30 November. The council is considering expanding the scheme’s coverage, with implementation expected from April next year, leaving a three-month period in which no licensing will apply.
