Letting agents urged to prepare now for Renters’ Rights Act

Letting agents should start preparing for the Renters’ Rights Act sooner rather than later, claims firm.

Property inventory firm No Letting Go, warn rules are already in place for councils under the Renters’ Rights Act to carry out surprise inspections.

The firm warns letting agents should treat the current period as a live compliance phase rather than a run-up to when the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force on 1 May 2026.

Letting agents could face enforcement action or financial penalties

Nick Lyons, founder of property reporting specialists, No Letting Go, said: “There’s a misconception that the Renters’ Rights Act becomes real only when the headline tenancy changes land in May or waiting until phase two later in the year, when the ombudsman is introduced.

“In reality, councils already have the power to ask for evidence, inspect records and test whether compliance actually stands up and when the ombudsman becomes live, they will be looking back at evidence such as routine visits.”

Mr Lyons adds letting agents who rely on historic processes may underestimate how much weight councils place on documentation quality.

He said: “Poor evidence can be treated the same as missing evidence.

“Waiting until May is a gamble, waiting until later in the year or worse reduces the odds even more and could be very costly.”

Risk is capacity pressure

Mr Lyons adds letting agents who delay reviewing their compliance processes could face enforcement action or financial penalties and urges letting agents to prepare now.

He said: “Agents should treat the current period as a live compliance phase rather than a run-up to May.

“That includes checking whether inspection records and certificates are stored in consistent formats, whether evidence can be produced quickly for individual properties and whether reporting standards hold up during busy periods.

“The risk isn’t a lack of knowledge.  Most agents know what inspections and certifications are required. The risk is capacity pressure, inconsistent records and evidence that’s difficult to retrieve when councils or the ombudsman come calling.”

Under the Renters’ Rights Act, landlords and letting agents could face up to £30,000 in financial penalties.