Ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act coming into force this Friday, Lee Williams, National Sales Manager at Saffron for Intermediaries, has shared his perspective on the key changes and what they are likely to mean for landlords, brokers, and the wider private rented sector.
Lee Williams, National Sales Manager at Saffron for Intermediaries comments
“These reforms place greater emphasis on landlords’ understanding and adapting to a more structured, compliance-led environment, and will require careful navigation as the market adjusts. There are three areas where the impact is likely to be most significant.
Changes in tenancies
“The move to periodic tenancies, combined with increased tenant flexibility to leave with two months’ notice, signals a shift towards longer-term rental arrangements. For landlords, this places more focus on maintaining well-presented properties in strong locations to support consistent occupancy and manage the risk of void periods.
New frameworks for possession and rent setting
“The removal of Section 21 represents one of the most significant changes, with possession now reliant on clearly defined grounds. This increases the importance of documentation, compliance and understanding the correct processes. At the same time, limiting rent increases to once per year introduces a more structured approach, with greater scrutiny on how rents are set and justified in line with market conditions.
A more structured and evolving rental market
“A broader tenant base, alongside evolving expectations around issues such as pets, reflects a changing rental landscape, but also one that brings additional operational and compliance considerations. Increased regulation may place additional pressure on some landlords, particularly smaller operators, and could influence how portfolios are managed or expanded over time.”
