The Renters’ Rights Bill is set to shake up the rental landscape and is already expected to be one of the most significant legislative changes in the private rented sector in decades.

We’re going to see wide-ranging implications for letting agents, landlords, and tenants alike, so understanding these reforms is critical. Whether you manage a branch in central London, run a rural agency, or oversee operations across multiple city offices, this new bill is going to have major implications for your business.

Here’s what you need to know about the Renters’ Rights Bill:


1. Section 21 is out - no more ‘No Fault’ evictions

One of the most high-profile proposals in the bill is the abolition of Section 21 notices. This means landlords will no longer be able to end tenancies without providing a valid reason. The goal is, of course, to deliver greater security for tenants, but the change won’t be without its difficulties. It’s likely to place more pressure on agents to manage disputes, record tenant issues thoroughly, and guide landlords through a more rigid possession process.

What this means for agents:

● London & major cities: Fast-paced branches in major cities will need to streamline how they log tenant behaviour and communicate risks to landlords

● Rural areas: More rural agents may face a steeper learning curve as local landlords grow concerned over loss of flexibility

● Multi-branch groups: Where there are multiple areas and branches to consider, you’ll need centralised, repeatable processes that maintain legal accuracy across the board
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How to respond:
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Now is the time to consider future action, strengthen documentation practices, and ensure staff are trained on the new grounds for possession under Section 8. If you don’t have clear communication processes in place already, this is the time to get them ready.

HomeLet has an in-house claims team, and our people will be here to support our customers through the changes that could come from the Renters’ Rights Bill. Our claims process has been made with our customers in mind and we are staying ahead of the Renters’ Rights Bill to ensure our partner agents have the best support during what could be a difficult time.



“We’re here to take the stress out of the claims process - handling everything quickly and smoothly to give your landlords peace of mind and protect their investment”

— Tonia Christopher, Claims & Recoveries Operations Manager, HomeLet
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2. Mandatory membership with a property ombudsman

Currently voluntary, the Bill proposes that all private landlords must register with a government-approved property ombudsman. The goal is to improve transparency and give tenants a clearer path for complaints. The service will offer fair and impartial resolutions for tenants. It will also be able to compel landlords to issue an apology, provide information, take remedial action, and/or pay compensation.

What this means for agents:

  • Small agents will need to formalise their complaint-handling procedures and make sure that they are robust enough to avoid ombudsman action.
  • Larger groups have to make sure every branch complies the same way across the organisation. This is especially true if operating under different trading names.

 

How the Vision+ platform can help:
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With automated compliance tracking, centralised document logs, and CRM integration, Vision+ gives you a clear audit trail and reduces the risk of non-compliance. Without adding manual admin. These tools will help you and your landlords keep tenants happy, resolve issues fast and steer clear of ombudsman intervention.

3. Private rentals see a new Decent Homes Standard

Inspired by social housing regulations, the Renters’ Rights Bill introduces a new Decent Homes Standard for the private sector. This means that every rental property must meet minimum safety, warmth, and maintenance benchmarks. While most landlords are already providing this level of home, this part of the bill exists to create a level playing field and clarify requirements.

What this means for agents:

● City branches may need to tighten their inspection routines due to higher scrutiny and volume.

● Rural agents often manage older buildings, which may need upgrades or updating to meet the new threshold.

● Corporate agents face a wider compliance net across multiple property types and regions, so need to be cautious of anything slipping through the cracks.
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Next steps:
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Start by reviewing your property condition assessment templates. Are these up to date with the new standards? How often do these properties get reviewed? From there, prioritise high-risk properties and prepare to educate landlords about necessary upgrades. Make sure they understand the consequences of not bringing their properties up to the appropriate standard.

The Vision+ advantage:
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Keep the properties under your umbrella compliant with ease. Vision+ is a tenancy management platform that automates the sending of pre-tenancy documents, manages the collection of the initial move-in monies and provides all of our services in one place.

4. Push for transparency with the Private Rented Sector Database

Another major shift proposed is the Private Rented Sector Database. This is a digital platform where landlords and letting agents will be required to maintain key details about every rental property. Think of it as a central compliance hub designed to create better transparency. It will also be used for communicating changes to requirements in the future.
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Why this matters:
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Agents will be expected to input accurate data, from EPC ratings and deposit status to safety certificates. The portal is also likely to be visible to tenants, increasing pressure to keep everything up-to-date and clear. This may make landlords anxious, so a simple, organised approach to getting the data onto the portal is key.
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Implications for all areas:

● Fast-moving, city-based organisations will have to manage updates across a high-volume portfolio with tight turnaround times.

● Meanwhile, mid-sized letting agencies may struggle with the perceived complexity but can tackle it with support.

● In rural branches, agents will need to make sure there is consistency across varied teams with differing tech capabilities.
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Vision+ in action:
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Vision+ syncs compliance dates, safety certification alerts, and property records across branches. It also reduces duplication and removes the risk of additional human error. This means you’ll always have the most up-to-date, accurate data for the portal proposed in the Renters’ Rights Bill.
 

5. Rent repayment orders: greater financial penalties for non-compliance

The Renters’ Rights Bill also gives tenants stronger powers to reclaim rent if their landlord (or their letting agent) has failed in key areas of compliance. This could include illegal evictions, poor living conditions, or failure to license properties properly.

With more visibility and stricter standards, keeping properties compliant is more important than ever. Rent Repayment Orders (RROs) will be more highly enforced with higher payments, making this a frightening prospect for some landlords.
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What this means for agents:

● Even small oversights, like a missed gas safety renewal, could lead to significant financial consequences.

● Letting agents are increasingly seen as compliance gatekeepers. Whether fair or not, landlords will lean on you to ensure every regulation is met.

● Landlords who are overwhelmed may need you to educate them on the critical elements of compliance to the new bill.
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Prevent risk with proactive alerts:
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Never get caught in a compliance gap. Our Vision+ platform flags when your documents are due for renewal, reducing your exposure to repayment claims and helping you to keep your landlords in the clear.

Who’s getting impacted the most?

All letting agents will feel the impact of the bill, but they may find difficulty in different areas. This bill is comprehensive and all landlords and agents will need to find new ways of working to make sure compliance is upheld across the board. These are a few of the different ways agents can manage those impacts:
● City-based agents will need to focus on speed and agility. Automated workflows and clear, consistent processes will be your friend.
● More rural agents should focus on simplicity, minimising disruption and leading with educational support for their landlords.
● Multi-branch groups should focus on clear reporting, scalable compliance tools and enforcement of their policies.
Need help managing all of this change? These are all things that HomeLet can support you with. Contact one of our experts today to explore the best solution for you
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Vision+ for navigating rental reforms and compliance

While all of these types of agents can manage to tackle these changes with resource intensive manual tasks, spreadsheets and digging around in your CRM personally, you don’t have to.

With legislative change comes operational pressure and platforms like Vision+, from HomeLet, are designed to make compliance and efficiency easier at scale. Perfect for managing major changes that legislation like the Renters’ Rights Bill can create.

Vision+ offers:

● Centralised document storage that integrates with leading CRMs like Reapit, Alto, SME Professional, Radar and more

● Multi-branch visibility so area managers can oversee standards across teams

● Access to all of HomeLet’s products and services, all in one place
Whether you’re trying to keep up with volume in Camden or support three small-town branches across Yorkshire, Vision+ adapts to your workflow, not the other way around.



“With the looming Renters Rights legislation, take this as an opportunity to streamline your business and reduce unnecessary tenancy administration.”

— Jo Dickens, Head of Business Development


The Renters’ Rights Bill isn’t a distant proposal. It’s an imminent shift. And while the full rollout timeline remains fluid, the direction of travel is clear: more accountability, more transparency, and more pressure on letting agents to lead the charge.

Those who prepare now, by revisiting workflows, training teams, and adopting smart PropTech, will not only survive the transition but come out stronger for it. Before this bill arrives on your doorstep (with more like it down the line), invest in the tools you need for a seamless, compliant future.