Almost 60% of landlords do not feel prepared for the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act, with many looking to their letting agent for guidance, according to Dwelly.

A survey of landlords in England by Dwelly, found that half feel they are not very prepared for the introduction of the new legislation, with a further 7% admitting they are not at all prepared. Just 15% say they feel very well prepared, while 27% describe themselves as only somewhat prepared. 

Sam Humphreys, Head of M&A at Dwelly, said: “It’s understandable that many landlords don’t yet feel properly prepared. While this legislation has been on the radar for years, the constant back-and-forth has made it difficult for the industry to gain clarity, let alone individual landlords. Even now, having gained Royal Assent, there’s still no concrete timeline for implementation. 

“What is clear is that landlords are increasingly looking to their letting agents for support, and those agents will be key to ensuring a smooth transition. This puts an emphasis on operational efficiency, as agents will need to go beyond the day-to-day to provide clarity, guidance and proactive communication.”

The main parts of the legislation which landlords felt least prepared for were the abolition of Section 21, rules on tenants keeping pets, the creation of a national landlord register, the move to periodic tenancies, and stricter notice period and rent increase limits.