Letting agents are being urged to act now on the Renters’ Rights Act as new council investigatory powers are already in effect and enforcement expectations shift from property management to property compliance.
Enhanced powers, in force since 27 December, allow councils to request information, inspect records, and test whether compliance can be evidenced.
Agents delaying preparation risk fines or enforcement long before the headline tenancy reforms take effect on 1 May.
The sector is moving away from traditional property management into a model where timing, proof, and retrieval speed are as important as the work itself. Fragmented or inconsistent records could leave agents exposed as authorities ramp up operationally.
COUNCIL CRACKDOWN
Nick Lyons, founder of property reporting specialists No Letting Go, warns: “There’s a misconception that the Renters’ Rights Act becomes real only when the headline tenancy changes land in May or waiting until phase 2 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.”
“We’re moving away from traditional property management into property compliance management. Timing, proof and retrieval speed now matter just as much as the work itself.”
COSTLY GAMBLE
And he adds: “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.
“Some agents are already tightening their reporting frameworks and using structured systems, like Konnect – No Letting Go and Kaptur’s software partnership – that provides reporting both inhouse and/or through a network of professional assessors, to enforce consistency at source.
“The goal is to make sure evidence stands up when it’s challenged, not months later when it’s too late to fix.
“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.”
