LonRes has launched a new rental valuation tool designed to help letting agents comply with incoming rules under the Renters’ Rights Act.
The new “Rental Checker” service aims to support agents in determining fair open market rents, a key requirement under Section 13 of the legislation, which comes into force on 1 May 2026.
Under the new rules, landlords will only be permitted to increase rents once per year and must ensure any rise reflects local market levels. Tenants will also have the right to challenge increases via a first-tier tribunal if they believe rents are excessive.
LonRes says establishing what constitutes a fair market rent could prove complex in practice, particularly in higher-value markets where pricing can vary significantly.
ACCURATE COMPARISONS
The Rental Checker tool has initially been rolled out across prime London, with plans to expand coverage across the M25. It uses achieved rental data from the LonRes platform, rather than asking rents, to provide more accurate comparisons.
Agents input property details including postcode, size, number of bedrooms and current rental value. The system then analyses comparable transactions to generate an “accuracy barometer”, indicating how closely the property aligns with prevailing market rents.
The resulting data, including comparable evidence, can be incorporated into branded reports for landlords and tenants, providing a documented audit trail to support rental decisions.
INDEPENDENT REPORT
Chris Welch (main picture, inset), Director of Sales at LonRes, says: “Rental Checker helps letting agents advise their clients in setting rent increases so that they comply to the RRA rulings. Importantly the rental comparables draw upon achieved as opposed to asking rents. This allows for a degree of accuracy not matched by some of the wider consumer property portals.
“And because LonRes is independent – it neither lets nor sells property – the Rental Checker report is too.
“The report is designed for letting agents to forward on to landlords and in turn their tenants as a means of verifying their decision-making process. In essence Rental Checker promotes both transparency and fairness in the sector.”
Anthony Payne, Chief Executive Officer at LonRes, adds: “LonRes is uniquely placed to facilitate this service.
“Rental Checker will help letting agents and their clients in determining true rental values in a fair and transparent manner.”
