What Landlords Should Do Now: Renters’ Rights, MTD & More

landlord seminar on renters rights bill July 2025

With the Renters’ Rights Bill on the way, I attended an industry event to gauge landlord sentiment and market direction. Here are the key takeaways from the National Landlord Investment Show in London.

✅ To-Do List for Landlords in 2025

If you are short on time, here is your action plan:

  • Renters’ Rights Bill (RRB) – Don’t panic. The changes won’t all come at once. Stay informed and keep learning.
  • Landlord Insurance – If you don’t have coverage yet, now’s the time. It’s quickly becoming essential.
  • Investment Opportunity – With many landlords selling, this may be the ideal time to expand your portfolio.
  • Making Tax Digital (MTD) – Even if your threshold doesn’t kick in until 2027, aim to be fully set up by the end of 2025. This gives you a full tax year of practice before the system becomes mandatory for most London-based landlords.

🏛️ Renters’ Rights Bill – Fear Sells

Paul Shamplina of Landlord Action pointed out that 40% of the UK’s 2.7 million landlords don’t use letting agents. No wonder there was a palpable sense of anxiety around RRB.

Yes, change is daunting—especially the loss of Section 21 and uncertainty around Section 8. But change is the name of the game and we have all gone through major changes before, like the 2019 Tenant Fees Act. And let’s face it, post-pandemic, most landlords are already vetting tenants more thoroughly than ever.

The Show seemed to have an overabundance of insurance companies. It’s not surprising, as the Rent Repayment Order is expected to increase from 12 to 24 months. One major insurer reported a 30–40% increase in policy enquiries and uptake. If you haven’t reviewed your cover recently, now is the time.

At a minimum, your policy should include:

  • Loss of rent
  • Malicious or accidental damage
  • Legal expenses

For those who need a refresher on the key contents of the Bill, please click here.

📉 Landlord Exodus or Golden Opportunity?

With landlords fleeing the Private Rented Sector (PRS), are we seeing a crisis or an opportunity? It depends on your perspective.

  • For investors, it’s a golden chance to find motivated sellers in a buyer’s market.
  • For confident landlords, now could be the time to expand.

Rental stock is down, which pushes the rent up. While some tenants are leaving London due to affordability, others are moving in with strong salaries. The demand for quality rental homes isn’t disappearing anytime soon.

Though the Bill was initially expected by summer 2025, its implementation is now rumoured to be delayed to April 2026. The narrative is evolving fast. For example:

  • The pet damage deposit cap has improved to three weeks’ rent.
  • The re-letting ban, if a landlord chooses to sell, is reduced from 12 months to 6 months.

Stay agile and informed. Flexibility will be a huge asset.

💻 Making Tax Digital (MTD): What to Know

The HMRC was present at the event to explain the Making Tax Digital (MTD) rollout:

  • April 2026: Landlords earning over £50,000 must report digitally.
  • First quarterly update due by 7 August 2026 (for period 6 April to 5 July).
  • One annual submission, not four tax payments.
  • 2027: Threshold lowers to £30,000.
  • 2028: Drops to £20,000.

The penalty for late submission is points-based and financial – a system that is similar to how VAT reporting works now.

Even if you are not in the first wave, start preparing now:

  • Use HMRC-approved software, which is listed here.

As agents, we get asked what is the best – in short, Xero is one of the most popular but it is not as intuitive as you think (but probably easier than softwares like QuickBooks and Sage). Hammock is a platform dedicated to landlords. It’s all about finding the software that will meet your needs

  • Talk to accountants. Some can offer discounted software if you sign up through them—but we recommend that account is in your name so you retain full data control.

Fear of being tied down indefinitely? Consider finding an accountant who can set you up to run the quarterly update independently. That’s even more reason to start early with MTD.

  • Prefer spreadsheets? You can still use them—but will need a “bridging software” to submit digitally.

HMRC noted that there will be exemptions for some landlords, but it must be pre-approved. E.g. due to age, religious belief, or lack of broadband.

What about the mistakes you made in a quarter? Don’t stress—errors can be corrected in the next quarter or even in the final quafter before submission.

Best of all, if you join the pilot MTD now, you get access to a dedicated helpline—not the generic queue.

🧭 Supplier Spotlight: ET Planning

ET Planning, a professional planning consultant, stood out among exhibitors.

As an agent, planning is often handled by the architect or the builders. ET Planning said they are different because they have separate professional designations as chartered members of the Royal Town Planning Institute, not RIBA. They don’t draw but will be more familiar with exceptional cases and moreover, help to value a property for the potential of obtaining a planning permit.

These professionals are valuable not just for sales but also when dealing with leasehold properties, conservation areas, or listed buildings.

Disclosure: there is no commercial relationship influencing this mention.

🧠 Final Thoughts

The property sector is changing—but change brings opportunity. Stay informed, act early, and adapt to stay ahead.

⚠️ Don’t wait for legislation to catch you off guard.
Start preparing today—reach out to our team for tailored landlord advice. Contact Marybow Property at 📞 0203 588 5115 or message us here.

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