Renters’ Rights Bill: Tech Tools to Keep You Ahead

A Practical Checklist for Property Managers

With reforms imminent, property managers should start preparing now:

1. Audit tenancy agreements – ensure contracts reflect the move to periodic tenancies.

2. Plan rent reviews – build in structured, annual reviews with clear records.

3. Update dispute handling – set up processes for tenants challenging increases.

4. Track property standards – document inspections and repairs to meet the Decent Homes Standard.

Tools like Propman can support these steps and the priority is ensuring systems and processes – digital or otherwise – are ready for the new compliance environment.

A Quick Recap: What’s Changing Under the Renters’ Rights Bill

• Section 21 abolished: No-fault evictions will go, with all tenancies moving to open-ended periodic agreements.

• Revised eviction grounds: Section 8 criteria will expand, but possession will still require court approval.

• Rent increase limits: Only one increase per year, with two months’ notice, and stronger tenant rights to challenge rises.

• Ban on rental bidding wars: Asking rent becomes the ceiling – fines await those who induce higher offers.

• Property standards tightened: The Decent Homes Standard and Awaab’s Law will apply to private rentals.

• New rights and protections: Tenants can request pets, while blanket bans on families or benefits claimants will be unlawful.

• Ombudsman and registration: All landlords must register and join a new redress scheme.

For property managers, this translates to new workflows: evidencing legitimate grounds for possession, carefully timing rent reviews, documenting property standards, and preparing for stricter audits.

What This Means in Practice

The Bill is not just legal text it will shape everyday property management:

• A tenant disputes a rent increase → managers must provide a clear audit trail to a tribunal.

• A property is reported for damp → managers must prove repairs were scheduled and completed within Awaab’s Law deadlines.

• A landlord seeks possession → managers will need documented evidence of arrears or other valid grounds, ready for court.

These are not theoretical changes they will quickly become routine tasks.

Timing is Critical

The Bill is expected to become law in Autumn 2025, with key measures phased in over the months that follow. That leaves property managers limited time to adapt tenancy agreements, establish compliance-ready rent review processes, and prepare inspection records. Acting early will help avoid the cost and stress of last-minute changes.

The Cost of Getting It Wrong

Beyond the operational burden, non-compliance carries real financial and reputational risks:

• Fines up to £7,000 for failing to join the landlord register.

• Fines up to £40,000 or criminal prosecution for serious breaches such as false information.

• Longer disputes and higher legal costs if evictions are not supported with solid evidence.

• Damage to reputation with tenants, investors, and regulators if housing standards are not met.

Compliance is not optional, but it does not need to be a headache. With the right systems in place, it becomes a straightforward part of good business practice giving leaders confidence that risks are managed and standards are met.

Technology Keeping Pace

Software is quietly but critically adapting to this shift. In its latest release, Propman (X4.15.00) has rolled out features designed with the Bill in mind:

• 12-month rent review gaps applied automatically

• Built-in dispute handling workflows

• Audit-ready rent review letters in a few clicks

However, many of the upcoming legislative changes are already supported in current software without any need for updates. For example, new tenant rights, records can include notes, guarantor details, and conditions. Requests such as pets, along with policy decisions, can be documented, providing an audit trail that shows blanket bans or discrimination were not applied.

A Sector-Wide Shift

These reforms respond to what the government calls “long overdue” changes in a sector that has been criticised for insecurity and poor standards. The new framework pushes property management towards greater accountability and transparency.

For property managers, that means moving from reactive processes to proactive, data-driven compliance. Software like Propman is already evolving to help with audit-ready rent review letters, built-in dispute handling workflows, and automated 12-month rent review gaps. But the bigger message is clear: technology is no longer optional if you want to stay compliant, competitive, and trusted.

Looking Ahead

The Renters’ Rights Bill is almost certain to become law. By acting early, property managers can protect landlords, reassure tenants, and avoid costly compliance risks – while keeping operations smooth during the transition.
 

Emma Thorne, Marketing Executive, Grosvenor Systems Limited