Just a third of tenants believe their property manager is fully compliant with the Renters’ Rights Act, according to new research that suggests many agents have yet to convince renters they have adapted to the new rules.
A survey of 1,105 tenants living in managed properties by Rushbrook & Rathbone found that only 32% believe their property manager is fully compliant with the legislation. Some 42% think there are gaps in compliance, while 26% said they do not know whether their manager meets the new requirements.
The research also found that 59% of tenants had not seen their tenancy agreement updated to reflect the changes introduced by the Act, despite managing agents having until 31 May to issue revised documentation.
Communication appears to be a key issue, with half of respondents saying they had received no information from their property manager about the reforms. Just 29% said the changes had been clearly explained.
Meanwhile, 91% of tenants reported seeing no noticeable change in the way their property has been managed since the legislation came into force, while only 19% said their manager had proactively addressed issues such as damp, mould or other safety concerns.
The findings suggest that many tenants remain unclear about how the new rules affect their tenancy and whether their property manager has taken the necessary steps to comply.
Roma Sharma, managing director of Rushbrook & Rathbone, commented: “With the implementation period now behind us, tenants should have confidence that their property manager has taken the necessary steps to comply with the new legislation and communicate any relevant changes.
“However, our findings suggest that many tenants remain uncertain about what has changed, what protections are now in place, and whether their property manager has fully adapted to the new requirements.
“At the same time, the absence of visible action – particularly when it comes to issues like damp, mould and general safety – points to a wider problem within parts of the industry, where compliance risks becoming a box-ticking exercise rather than a genuine commitment to raising standards.
“For property managers, this is a clear moment of accountability. Those who fail to communicate transparently and act decisively risk falling short of both their legal obligations and tenant expectations. By contrast, there is a real opportunity for responsible operators to set themselves apart by being proactive, responsive, and fully aligned with both the letter and the spirit of the new law.”
Most tenants unconvinced agents are compliant with Renters’ Rights Act
