Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Team from a report by The Negotiator. Read the original article for full details.
Agents Confident But Concerned in First Months of Renters' Rights Act
Lettings agents and landlords have revealed their main concerns from the first six months of the Renters' Rights Act, with traditional issues rather than new ones front of mind. Goodlord's latest State of the Lettings Industry report shows pessimism among lettings agents has eased overall, dropping from 48% to 40% in the past year.
The Renters' Rights Act was introduced in May 2026, banning no-fault evictions, limiting upfront rents and moving to rolling tenancies. Despite initial concerns about the changes, the research suggests the market is dealing with some changes better than hoped, while in other areas fears around the RRA are proving true.
Rent in Advance and Rental Availability
59% of agents say restrictions on rent in advance have had a negative impact, and 50% report declining rental availability. A lack of available properties is exacerbated by landlords continuing to exit the market. Among landlords reducing their portfolios or preparing to leave the sector, 65% say the Renters' Rights Act is the leading reason.
Pets in Lets and Fixed Term Tenancies
Only 28% of agents report a negative impact from 'pets in lets', despite almost half at 49% believing it would bring negative effects when asked last year. Among landlords, 57% say the move away from fixed term tenancies has been negative. A quarter say they are more likely to reject applicants they would have previously accepted, while a third would rather leave a property vacant while waiting for a lower-risk applicant. 27% are trying to reduce their holdings or have done so over the past year.
Rising Risk and Unpredictable Management
The research found that 57% of agents report an increased risk of unexpected departures and void periods, while 46% are finding tenancy management more unpredictable. Additionally, 43% of lettings agents expect a negative impact from the landlord database. Rental supply is still an issue: half of agents report declining rental availability, while 45% report rising tenant enquiries.
Industry Reaction
William Reeve, Chief Executive of Goodlord, says: "This year's survey, our biggest to date, comes just six months after the Renters' Rights Act became effective. Overall, the industry is clearly more comfortable with the devil they know: sentiment is up compared to last year and some changes have been less disruptive than feared. The market prefers knowing where it stands."
He adds: "However, old issues continue to dog the private rented sector and new challenges are also emerging. Landlords leaving, rising demand and squeezed supply, and high rents are putting huge pressure on all stakeholders. And the unintended consequences of the RRA are adding to this burden; unwittingly making it harder for certain tenants to get their foot through the door."
The Renters' Rights Act and how you can turn obstacles into opportunities is a major theme at The Negotiator Conference & Expo on 27th November.
Source: The Negotiator