Letting agents and the Renters’ Rights Act are inseparable — and the data shows landlords know it. Propertymark’s latest rental market snapshot confirms a marked increase in landlords requesting full management services since February 2026, with the trade body attributing the trend directly to the proximity of the Act’s first phase on 1 May 2026. Landlords are overwhelmed. They are turning to agents for support. The question is whether agents have the documentation processes in place to actually deliver it…

Why Letting Agents and the Renters’ Rights Act Are Reshaping the Market

The scale of change coming into force on 1 May is significant. Section 21 “no-fault” evictions are abolished. All fixed-term Assured Shorthold Tenancies convert automatically to Assured Periodic Tenancies. Rent increases are capped to once per year via a formal Section 13 notice. And every landlord must provide the official Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 to existing tenants by 31 May — with proof of delivery, not just proof of sending.

That last point matters more than many agents realise. Propertymark has flagged proof of service as a key risk area, advising agents to use systems that generate a clear audit trail. The penalty for failure to serve the Information Sheet correctly is up to £7,000 per tenancy — and the legislation places a concurrent duty on both the agent and the landlord.

Even where a full management contract is in place, the landlord retains an underlying legal responsibility for compliance. Local authorities can penalise both parties. That means agents need not only to perform the task, but to provide their landlord with an immediate, verifiable audit trail that demonstrates the landlord’s own obligations have been met.

It is also worth noting that failure to serve the Information Sheet is classified as a remediable breach. If it is not rectified within 28 days of a final penalty notice, it becomes a continuing breach — which can lead to significantly higher cumulative fines or further enforcement action by the First-tier Tribunal.

Most Landlords Are Not Ready — and That Is an Opportunity

New figures from compliance tool provider Togal, based on nearly 400 landlords who self-assessed in the first ten days of its scorecard launch, show an average compliance score of just 38%. A full 84% fell into the at-risk or high-risk categories. Only 16% scored as mostly compliant.

These are the engaged landlords — the ones actively seeking out compliance checks. The broader population is likely less prepared still. For letting agents, this represents a clear commercial opportunity. Agents who can demonstrate robust compliance processes, and who can offer landlords the documentation infrastructure the Act demands, are well placed to win new management instructions and strengthen existing relationships.

How Letting Agents Can Use the Renters’ Rights Act to Add Value

The shift from Section 21 to evidence-based Section 8 possession changes everything about how tenancy records need to be kept. Under Section 21, a landlord could reclaim a property without explanation. Under Section 8, they must prove a recognised legal ground — and support it with documentation. Repairs logged. Communications timestamped. Property condition evidenced from the outset.

Professional inventory reports are central to that evidence trail. A detailed, independently produced inventory creates an impartial, timestamped record of a property’s condition at the start of a tenancy. It establishes the baseline for any future dispute about damage, disrepair, or maintenance — and it is exactly the kind of documentation that holds up when a Section 8 possession case relies on it.

At Assist Inventories, we work with letting agents to provide comprehensive inventory reports, check-in and check-out reports, and mid-tenancy inspections. Each report gives agents and their landlords the clear, time-stamped paper trail the Renters’ Rights Act now requires. For agents taking on new full management instructions, or auditing existing portfolios ahead of 1 May, professional inventory services are a practical and immediate step.

What Letting Agents Should Be Doing Now

With the go-live date days away, letting agents and the Renters’ Rights Act require urgent attention across several areas:

  • Issue the official Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 to all relevant tenants by 31 May 2026 — and retain proof of delivery for every tenancy.
  • Update tenancy agreement templates to remove fixed-term clauses and Section 21 references — existing agreements do not need to be reissued as the Act overrides those clauses automatically from 1 May.
  • Audit existing inventory records across the portfolio — flag any properties without a current, professional condition report.
  • Ensure safety certificates are current and that tenants have received copies, with evidence on file.
  • Put a clear process in place for logging repair requests and responses with dates and supporting documentation.
  • Update terms of business to reflect the agent’s responsibilities under the new legislation.

Landlords are looking for agents who can make the Renters’ Rights Act manageable. Agents who get their own house in order first are the ones who will meet that demand with confidence.

Assist Inventories provides professional inventory reports, check-in and check-out reports, and mid-tenancy inspections for letting agents across the region. Get in touch to discuss how we can support your portfolio ahead of 1 May 2026.

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