"It’s disconcerting to see that such a significant number of agents haven’t yet got into gear. Agents shouldn’t leave it any longer, time is not on their side and the penalties for inaction could be crippling"
- William Reeve - Goodlord
A survey of more than 700 letting agents by Goodlord shows that 31% have not taken any steps to prepare for the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act, which is due to come into force in less than six months.
While 69% say they have begun to make changes ahead of the new rules, a significant part of the sector remains unprepared before the 1 May deadline. Between now and 2026, agents will need to ensure their policies, paperwork, and procedures meet the new requirements to avoid costly mistakes that could lead to fines or investigations by the ombudsman.
Training is also likely to play a substantial role as agents respond to queries from both landlords and tenants. The survey found that 45% of respondents have already received questions about the Act, despite it being passed only last month.
Although many have not started preparing, most agents believe they will be ready by the implementation date. The research shows that 84% expect to have their systems and processes in place by May. However, 16%, or one in six, are not confident they will meet the deadline.
Additional findings from Goodlord’s State of the Letting Industry survey highlight the pressure that some agents are facing. Almost 40% of landlords expressed doubts that agents could manage the legislative changes ahead, including those within the Renters’ Rights Act.
William Reeve, CEO of Goodlord, explained the scale of work required. “Our research shows that too many agents are far from Renters’ Rights ready,” said William. “Given the volume of changes that are happening, from the end of fixed-term tenancies and the ban on over-bidding, to the scrapping of Section 21 and the introduction of new rules around pets, there’s a vast amount for letting professionals to get their heads around.”
He emphasised the need for agencies to act without delay. “Not only is there a lot of knowledge building to be done across teams, but also a huge number of processes, paperwork and systems that need updating,” commented William. “It’s disconcerting to see that such a significant number of agents haven’t yet got into gear. Agents shouldn’t leave it any longer, time is not on their side and the penalties for inaction could be crippling.”
