Propertymark is telling the government that letting agents require a six month phase-in for provisions in the Renters Rights Bill.
A statement from the trade body says: “A realistic lead-in time is vital. With over 23,000 letting agency businesses in England supporting more than 11 million tenants and 2.3 million landlords, we are calling for a minimum six-month implementation period. This will give agents time to understand the changes, adapt systems and processes, and support clients effectively through the transition.”
The Bill still has two more days of debate in the Report Stage in the House of Lords – July 7 and 15 – before it returns to the Commons and then moves on to get Royal Assent and become law. This now looks likely to happen after MPs return from their summer break, in early September.
In addition some measures contained in the Bill will probably require secondary legislation before taking effect, meaning some measures may not be effective until spring 2026.
Propertymark says it will continue to campaign on several key areas to improve the Bill, even at this late stage.
These include ensuring impact assessments and reviews on the housing market, improving how joint tenancies will end, commercial leases, the ability for local authorities to enforce the legislation, levelling the playing field for students and the option of fixed-term tenancies.
Propertymark also wants the government to reconsider extending the current deposit cap, which it says would help address challenges around rent in advance, and support landlords to take on more risk, such as allowing pets. Under the current system some 57%of landlords and agents have been unable to recover the cost of pet-related damage, the trade body claims.
Propertymark also says that it remains “deeply concerned” about the capacity and capability of the court system to handle more contested eviction cases due to the removal of Section 21 eviction powers. It says landlords who previously relied on this route will now have to provide evidence of specific grounds for possession, placing further pressure on already overstretched courts.
