For landlords a property is the probably the largest investment you will make in your lifetime. Whether you had always planned to buy-to-let or it was a future decision, choosing to rent out your property comes with a plethora of obligations, even more so, now that the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 has been passed. The raft of changes that have been brought in are unprecedented and will completely change the landscape for landlords in the UK. Ignorance of the law is no excuse; it is crucial that you adhere to your existing and additional legal responsibilities or face severe penalties.

Whilst many landlords use estate agents to manage their properties, these agents are generally not legally trained and cannot be completely relied on in the event of a problem. If they fail to carry out their duties under the service agreement, the tenant will still have their redress against you as the landlord due to your contractual relationship under the tenncy agreement. Your only recourse would then be to take subsequent action against the estate agent for breach of contract and/or negligence, which is time consuming, expensive and frustrating.