With changing legislation, increased prices, and more rights for tenants, landlords have a lot to keep an eye out for in 2025 and beyond.
Landlords will need to stay on top of reviewing tenancy agreements, ensuring energy efficiency and maintaining properties according to new rules.
For those struggling to keep up, working with professional property management companies can help landlords stay on top of the changing landscape. At J Property Management, our team are experts in all things legislation, helping landlords stay compliant. Just get in touch if you need help!
Need some more information? No problem. Let’s explore what landlords are up against in 2025 and beyond…
UK Property Landscape in 2025
From rising house prices and a continued strong demand for rentals, there is plenty for landlords to be aware of in 2025. Specifically, they should stay vigilant to changing legislation which could directly affect them.
With new laws coming in this year to protect tenant rights, landlords may need to think about their approach to the rent they charge, the conditions of their rental properties and what tenants are owed.
Rising House Prices
House prices are predicted to rise during 2025, with an average house price of £268,000 in the UK (as of March 2025) according to Zoopla. In total, the average house price is set to rise by 2.5% by the end of 2025. London in particular has shown the most significant monthly increase since 2024 (2.3%).
For landlords, this could indicate a continued strong demand for renting. With properties becoming increasingly unaffordable, more people will seek to rent rather than buy, especially in cities like London.
However, for landlords, rising house prices may indicate a difficult time to choose to Buy to Let. There will also be changes to the way that Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is calculated as of 1 April 2025. This, combined with the rising house prices, means an increased cost for any landlords wishing to purchase additional properties. So, for landlords, in addition to the 3% surcharge they already incur when purchasing buy-to-let properties, the overall SDLT rates will also increase.
More Protection For Tenants
The introduction of the Renters Reform Bill will strengthen tenant rights and protection across the rental market. With these new laws, the government wants to promote greater equality for renters and protect them from discrimination. As part of these stronger protections, the new measures will include:
- Right to request a pet – Tenants will now be allowed to request permission for a pet in their rented property. In response, landlords must provide a valid reason for a tenant not to have a pet such as health and safety concerns or potential damage to the property. They could also request tenants to take out pet insurance.
- Digitalisation of rental processes – From digital tenancy agreements and digital signatures to digital property inspections and online rent payment systems, the digitalisation of the rental process is set to improve efficiency and accessibility.
- Reimbursement of rent – Rent Repayment Orders (RROs) will allow tenants to request their rent payments back if the landlord does not fulfill their legal obligations, such as not maintaining the property in a safe way.
- Independent housing ombudsman – The introduction of an independent housing ombudsman is predicted to ease disputes between landlords and tenants with faster solutions and fewer legal proceedings.
Need For Better Living Conditions
The introduction of Awaab’s Law, following the preventable death of toddler Awaab Ishak due to mould exposure in a rental home, calls for landlords to address serious health hazards and ensure a higher standard of living in their properties. As part of this, landlords:
- Must ensure their rental properties meet minimum safety requirements including insulation, ventilation and heating
- Face legal action or financial penalties if they do not respond to dam and mould complaints within a strict time period
- Commit to conducting obligatory property condition assessments, possibly including regular inspections.
Energy Efficient Properties
The government is currently reviewing proposed changes about the requirements for the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), with plans to make EPC Band C mandatory by 2030 for privately rented homes. From 2025, landlords will be expected to start making any improvements for properties that do not meet this threshold. They will need to use this time to install more efficient heating, replace poorly insulated windows or upgrade insulation in other ways. If they do not meet the threshold, they may be unable to rent the property out or face fines.
In 2025, landlords should factor in these energy efficiency costs, especially if their properties are older or more poorly insulated. While it can mean that they are out of pocket in the short run, it is an important step to ensure greater rental potential in the future with more energy-efficient properties on their portfolio.
Introduction of the Renters’ Rights Bill
The Renters’ Rights Bill is expected to come into effect in July 2025, which will lead to significant changes for renters. Some of the key landlord implications include:
- No more ‘no-fault’ evictions – Section 21 evictions will no longer be permitted meaning that landlords are no longer able to end a tenancy without providing a specific reason. Instead, they must present a legally valid reason.
- Upfront rent payment restrictions – After this bill is actioned, landlords will no longer be able to request multiple months’ rent at the beginning of tenancy.
- Periodic tenancies – Rather than fixed-term tenancy agreements, tenancies will move to a rolling month-on-month basis, making it harder for landlords to regain possession.
- Stricter rules about rent increases – Landlords will only be able to increase rent once per year and tenants will have more empowerment to challenge price hikes through tribunals.
- Banned rental bidding wars – In an effort for greater transparency, landlords and agents must advertise a clear asking rent and must not accept offers above this.
How Can Landlords Prepare For Upcoming Changes in 2025?
The key advice for landlords in 2025 is to be proactive and get prepared. Here are some steps they can take:
- Review tenancy agreements – Look at your existing tenancy agreements to make sure that they are in line with the new Renters’ Rights Bill requirements before July.
- Prepare properties to be energy efficient – Consider investing in energy-efficient heating, new windows or insulation to help prepare your property now.
- Handle repairs and fixes – With regular inspections and stricter standards coming into play, inspect your property now to fix any issues such as damp and mould before it is too late.
- Work with a property management company – Working with a professional property management company like J Property Management can help navigate these new regulations and ensure that your property is fully compliant.
Helping Landlords Prepare For The Future
With laws and regulations changing, it can be difficult to predict what’s on the horizon for landlords in the future. Staying on top of tenancy agreements, keeping properties well-maintained and being proactive about sustainability issues like energy efficiency are all steps in the right direction.
Teaming up with a property management company can make sure all the boxes are ticked, without any stress.
If you’re unsure what you need to do to stay compliant with new laws, get in touch with J Property Management by emailing us at info@jpropertymanagement.co.uk. We help landlords across the capital stay compliant as new rules and regulations evolve.
