Understandably, preparing for the Renters’ Rights Bill is the major priority for everyone in the PRS. But there are a couple of other issues that could have a huge impact on the sector in 2025 and beyond.
We reveal what they are below and check in with the current state of the rental market.
How Revive Property Sales and Lettings Limited is preparing for the Renters’ Rights Bill
While the Renters’ Rights Bill remains at the “Report stage”, it’s still expected to become law in Summer 2025. That’s why we’re:
- Upskilling all of our agents; they’ll know how to serve Section 8 notices correctly when Section 21 is abolished, meaning you can avoid further court delays
- Updating our Section 13 processes; by keeping track of rent review dates and leveraging local market rate data, we’ll help you raise rents fairly and compliantly, reducing the likelihood of tenant appeals
- Levelling up our referencing processes; by performing income checks through Open Banking, HMRC, and payroll providers, we’ll reduce the chances of tenancy fraud and evictions
This will allow you to put your best foot forward in the changing landscape.
Incentives available for landlords looking to increase EPC rating
Labour wants all rental properties to have a minimum EPC rating of C by 2030.
However, data from epIMS suggests that 50.1% of the 4.9 million private rental properties in England are rated below this. Although the dates and ratings aren’t yet set in stone, some landlords will need to make adjustments to become compliant.
But there is a silver lining:
Help is available for anyone who wants to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Green Living offers from Halifax, for example, offers:
- £2,000 cashback on heat pumps
- £1,000 cashback for solar panels
- £500 cashback for double glazing and insulation
Landlords and agents proved right over rent control criticism
The Scottish housing market is something of a crystal ball for the rest of the UK. The country abolished fixed-term tenancies in 2017, and eight years later, the Renters’ Rights Bill proposes the same for England.
That’s why the current debate about rent controls in The Housing (Scotland) Bill is turning heads.
Interestingly, the rent growth rate increased by 22.4% following the introduction of rent controls in September 2022, according to data cited in Landlord Today. While proving critics of rent controls right, this also appears to have prompted lawmakers to think twice before rolling out the policy across the UK.
The Renters’ Rights Bill, for example, explicitly states that it “does not support the introduction of rent controls”.
The Revive Property Management Services team.