"While this legislation has been on the radar for years, the constant back-and-forth has made it difficult for the industry to gain clarity, let alone individual landlords"
- Sam Humphreys - Dwelly
New insight from Dwelly shows that 57% of landlords do not feel prepared for the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act. Many are looking to their letting agent for guidance, underlining the important role agents will play in helping landlords navigate the transitional period and beyond.
The Renters’ Rights Act, which recently gained Royal Assent, represents one of the most significant overhauls of the private rented sector in decades. The legislation will abolish Section 21 “no-fault” evictions, introduce a national landlord register, and replace fixed-term tenancies with periodic agreements, alongside new rules on rent increases, notice periods, and property standards.
A survey of landlords in England, commissioned by Dwelly, found that half feel they are not very prepared for the introduction of the new legislation, with a further 7% admitting they are not at all prepared. Just 15% say they feel very well prepared, while 27% describe themselves as only somewhat prepared.
This indicates that, while the Act is now formally in place, months of political back-and-forth, changing timelines, and uncertainty have left many landlords confused and struggling to plan ahead.
When asked which parts of the legislation they felt least prepared for, landlords highlighted the abolition of Section 21, rules on tenants keeping pets, the creation of a national landlord register, the move to periodic tenancies, and stricter notice period and rent increase limits.
Asked how they plan to approach these changes to compliance, 42% of landlords said they would rely on their letting agent to advise and manage the process on their behalf. However, only 23% said their agent had already provided clear guidance and a plan of action, 31% had received some initial communication, and almost half (46%) had received no communication at all.
Most landlords (71%) believe the Government’s decision to stagger the rollout of the Act will make compliance easier to manage, but two-thirds (66%) say that official guidance has so far been unclear, particularly around timelines and practical requirements.
“It’s understandable that many landlords don’t yet feel properly prepared. While this legislation has been on the radar for years, the constant back-and-forth has made it difficult for the industry to gain clarity, let alone individual landlords. Even now, having gained Royal Assent, there’s still no concrete timeline for implementation,” said Sam Humphreys, head of M&A at Dwelly.
“What is clear is that landlords are increasingly looking to their letting agents for support, and those agents will be key to ensuring a smooth transition. This puts an emphasis on operational efficiency, as agents will need to go beyond the day-to-day to provide clarity, guidance and proactive communication.
“At Dwelly, we’re already helping our agencies strengthen these capabilities - from process automation to compliance management - so they can confidently lead their landlords through the Renters’ Rights Act and demonstrate their value in a changing market.”
