A lettings agency chief has used a newspaper column to explain how great he believes the Renters Rights Act to be – and to caution landlords to shape up.
Sam Humphreys of Dwelly – a tech company that acquires and partners with independent letting agencies to modernise their operations – writes in the business newspaper City AM that the Act helps to modernise, stabilise and professionalise a sector that has long needed reform.
And he begins his column by stating that claims of a landlord exodus from the private rental sector are untrue.
“HMRC data shows that the number of unincorporated landlords declaring UK property income has remained broadly stable over the past five years, standing at around 2.86m in 2023/24 – only marginally below the 2022/23 peak. Professional landlords have already weathered years of regulatory change, from tighter tax relief rules to new safety standards, and yet the sector continues to adapt and endure” he writes.
Humphreys claims the Act merely targets the small minority of rogue or non-compliant landlords who exploit loopholes, ignore safety requirements and misuse eviction powers.
He hopes on: “The vast majority of professional landlords already meet or exceed the standards being introduced. By removing bad actors, the sector becomes more reputable, which ultimately benefits good landlords through improved trust and tenant confidence.
“Predictability and transparency are positives, not punishments. The new periodic tenancy system gives flexibility to both sides and makes the process for repossession clearer and fairer, with legitimate grounds still protected – whether a landlord needs to sell, move in family or address serious rent arrears. Transparent rent increase mechanisms also give landlords greater foresight over yields and reduce the risk of disputes.
“Moreover, tenant stability should be seen as an asset. Long-term, satisfied tenants mean fewer voids, lower turnover costs and better-maintained properties. Professional landlords already value this consistency, and the Act helps to normalise it across the market.”
He concludes his article by saying the new legislation offers a reputational reset.
He explains what this means: “Public sentiment towards landlords has been poor for years, but a fairer and more transparent rental system can start to change that. Compliance and professionalism are not penalties – they are the hallmarks of a mature, investable housing market. In that sense, the Renters Rights Act is not a punishment but a long-overdue step towards a better, more balanced private rental sector for everyone.”
This article is taken from Landlord Today