The Renters’ Rights Act: A time for proactivity

As published on Estate Agent Today

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 27 October 2025. It is a historic moment for the lettings industry: the biggest overhaul of private renting in England.

Once enacted fully, the sweeping reforms will ban Section 21 evictions, introduce a new periodic tenancy regime, and set new requirements for property standards and rent increases.

Landlords and letting agents across the country will now need to navigate a major shift in how they operate. It’s a shift in the status quo that will demand a strategic and proactive response from the sector.

At Ocasa Homes, we manage more than 2,200 homes across the UK, including co-living and Build-to-Rent properties.

In the face of legislative change on this scale, success will depend on positioning your business and teams in a way that puts you on the front foot.

This will enable you to implement new ways of working and approaches that ensure tenants’ rights and experiences are upheld.

Adapting to legislative changes

The new legislation means that a proactive approach to compliance is more important than ever before.

With legal changes, it can always be tempting to wait for the finer details before putting together a plan of action that adheres to updated requirements.

In the case of the Renters’ Rights Act, this will not do. The most effective letting agents will be those who act now to adapt and reinforce their internal processes.

Knowledge is power, so education is key. Take time to ensure your teams, from top down, are well versed on the fundamentals of the new legal framework and trained on how to address the minimum requirements head on and provide reassurance to both landlords and residents.

Letting businesses that invest in training early doors will position themselves ahead of the curve when enforcement begins.

Compliance is never a tick-box exercise – it is the basis of professional excellence in our highly regulated sector. By reviewing your policies, updating tenancy documentation, and aligning systems with the new periodic tenancy model, you can reduce disruption and demonstrate leadership in an ever-evolving market.

Enhancing resident experiences

The enactment of these changes ultimately serves as a reminder of where our focus as a sector should be: on residents, the people who create homes from the properties we manage.

Renters now have the legal foundations for more stability and security. As letting agents, our role should now be to create a better rental experience for every resident.

As renters have rightfully been given more legal rights, their satisfaction has never been more imperative to the long-term success of a lettings business.

Creating seamless, transparent and supportive resident journeys can result in longer tenancies and reduce costly churn, which benefits both landlords and agents.

So, now is the time to ask: is there a way to go the extra mile to encourage our residents to stay longer in the homes we provide?

From experience, small but meaningful improvements can often make a big impression on residents. Whether clearer communication, more responsive maintenance, or introducing regular resident check-ins – a little can go a long way.

Take time to monitor and refine the resident experience in real-time to create a positive feedback loop that empowers loyalty, trust and stability – the principles that underpin this new legislative landscape.

Driving operational excellence

As the Renters’ Rights Act beds into our daily operations, there’s an opportunity to step back and grab the broader opportunity it represents.

Legal changes can be burdensome; often requiring significant administrative changes which take time and effort.

But these reforms are a chance for letting agents to strengthen important processes and strive for operational excellence. From tenancy management to keeping compliance records, efficiency can be enhanced across the board.

Letting agents that can demonstrate full transparency at every stage of the resident journey, while adhering to stringent requirements, will thrive in this once-in-a-generation legal shift.

In turn, this will further professionalise the sector, building lasting trust with residents and landlords.