The Government has issued guidance setting out how the new national landlord register will operate in England under the Renters’ Right Act. It confirms landlord registration duties, the role of lettings agents in supplying property data, the phased regional rollout from December 2026, and penalties for non-compliance.
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.
HMRC has launched a consultation on introducing standardised digital reporting requirements for lettings agents and tenancy deposit protection schemes to improve the collection of rental income data. The proposals aim to replace repeated individual notices with regular structured reporting, with the stated goal of improving data quality, compliance and tax administration.
Goodlord’s latest State of the Lettings Industry report suggests lettings sentiment has improved since the Renters’ Rights Act came into force, but significant concerns remain around rent-in-advance restrictions, reduced rental availability and greater tenancy management uncertainty. The research indicates that some feared impacts, such as pets in lets, have been less severe than expected, while landlord exit from the sector is contributing to tighter supply.
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.
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.
A Goodlord report on the private rental sector says the Renters Rights Act has had unintended consequences for landlords, particularly through the move away from fixed-term tenancies and the restriction on taking more than one month’s rent in advance. The survey suggests this is contributing to landlord exits, tighter supply and greater caution over tenant selection.
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 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.
