The RRA Countdown is On – Property Expert Warns Agents to Get Ready
With the first changes of the Renters’ Rights Act now live, a leading industry titan is pressing letting agents to put the preparations in place now to avoid falling behind.
Although the main changes from the RRA will come into play from May 2026, the first changes are now in force with the rollout of new local authority-led investigative and enforcement powers – which Agent Rainmaker’s Sally Lawson says while daunting, is also a huge opportunity.
“If letting agents haven’t got their ducks in a row for possibly the biggest challenge in a generation, now’s the time. It’s either that, or fall behind and put at risk everything that’s been built,” she explained.
“This first change is a huge one – it’s all about compliance and new powers that councils have. Landlords will be worried, but agents will be their biggest help to come. And that’s why it’s a massive opportunity to get belt-and-braces, upskill and educate staff, and start offering them very specific services that remove some of their burden.
“Landlords need regulatory and compliance support like they never have before, so who better to offer that than letting agents? Agents who are arguably some of the most knowledgeable in this field?”
Sally says that some of the Rainmakers in her community are offering up to 53 chargeable services for landlords rather than the main two – let-only and fully-managed.
These include compliance-related support such as legal process assistance (e.g. court appearances), HMO licence application or renewal, council inspections, and Right to Rent checks.
“Remember, as agency owners, it’s not all on you to do everything. You need to run a business that’s sustainable, profitable, and able to handle challenges like this when they’re thrown our way. It’s time to level-up staff training and education, particularly around the new areas councils will have the power to uphold, and empower them to lead.”
Sally added that communication and education is key for landlords, many of whom will welcome knowledgeable advice, guidance and support from letting agents. She also stresses the importance of preparing for increased requests for evidence when it comes to data and documentation, and increasing oversight and management of potential problem landlords to reduce overall agency risk.
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