BREAKING NEWS - IMPLEMENTATION DATES FOR RENTERS’ RIGHTS ACT 2025 ANNOUNCED
One of the most pressing questions since the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent has been when will the legislation be implemented. Finally the government have announced that key elements of the ACT will be introduced as follows:-
New investigatory powers giving local councils a stronger ability to inspect properties, demand documents, and access third-party data to crack down on rogue landlords and enforce housing standards more effectively will come into effect on 27 December 2025.
Government guidance has been issued twice in a very short space of time and we should be mindful that local authorities will have the power to investigate whether a landlord or an agent letting out private rented housing has broken certain laws.
Time needed to get Ducks in a Row for the Renters’ Rights Act
Kristjan Byfield recently wrote a Linkedin post on the importance of the government allowing time for the lettings industry to prepare for the changes that the #rentersrightsact will bring. Kristjan is right and it’s not just lettings and property management this will affect.
The impact assessment I put together last year (visual learner) illustrates just how far reaching the Act will be. It's seismic.
Let’s start with landlords and letting agents / PMs - they will have to amend and update processes and systems related to pre, during and post tenancy.
Tenants will need to educate themselves or be signposted to these changes.
Legal firms, solicitors, barristers and the Law Commission of England and Wales will become the lynch pins for legal paperwork, advice, court claims (at some point) navigating complex areas of the Act and a comfort blanket of sorts.
1st May 2025 - Renters’ Rights Bill - Fourth Marshalled List for Committee – House of Lords
It’s been an interesting 3 days of the Committee Stage in the House of Lords with the being checked in detail right down to words being added or removed to ensure that the details of relevant sections are they should be.
During committee stage, amendments have been proposed, some of which have been withdrawn, some agreed and some to be ‘moved in committee of the whole house’
What Does to be ‘moved in committee of the whole house’ Mean?
When a new law, in this case, the Renters’ Rights Bill, is going through Parliament, it must pass through several stages. One of these stages is called the Committee of the Whole House.
Something else to think about for 2025
At the moment the focus is well & truly on the Renters’ Rights Bill and for good reason given the impact that such a significant piece of legislation will have on the Private Rented Sector. However, there are other crucial pieces of information / updates that property professionals need to be aware of.
Land Registry Fees
The Land Registry is a cornerstone of land registration in England & Wales, relied upon by many different Stakeholders as a source of information. From Monday 9 December, 2023, fees for HM Land Registry information services increased for the first time in more than 10 years.
The fee will increase by £4, for example:
inspection of an individual register or plan (digital copy) increased from £3 to £7
official copy of an individual register or plan (digital copy) increased from £3 to £7
registration, cancellation or rectification of an entry per name (Agricultural Credits Service or application) increased from £1 to £5