The Renters’ Rights Bill: A Golden Opportunity for South London Landlords
2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for the rental sector – not just for tenants, but for landlords too.
The Renters’ Rights Bill, which has generated more than its fair share of headlines, is gradually moving through its final parliamentary stages. And with it comes a rising tide of speculation, frustration… and opportunity.
Because let’s be honest: not everyone’s going to stick around. Some landlords will walk away from the sector. Some already have, as I wrote about recently (see article here). But for those landlords out there who approach lettings with a business mindset, if they also care about the detail of doing things right, this really should be the moment to lean in, not back away.
Because the way the market shapes up here in South London, there’s every reason to feel confident about the opportunity the Bill brings to savvy landlords, rather than focussing on the pain.
South London is Changing; Are You Keeping Up?
Whether we look at Streatham Hill or Tooting or Balham or Colliers Wood, the rental market has evolved and continues to move fast. Demand is up, which has pushed up rental prices – but tenants are nevertheless looking for quality of accommodation, despite the competition. The pressure is on for landlords and agents to raise their game.
But that’s not a bad thing. At Your Home Managed, we’ve always believed that being a landlord should be treated as a professional undertaking – not just a handy side hustle. We’ve spent the past decade helping South London landlords meet that standard.
Whether it’s a one-bedroom flat or a six-bed HMO, quality and care matter. That’s what tenants want, but importantly – when it comes to what is, for the landlord, an asset – it is also what pays off in the long run.
What the Renters’ Rights Bill Really Means
Forget the noise – and know that we do absolutely understand the aggravations and upheavals that will be coming down the road. But when we break it all down, the Renters’ Rights Bill is not actually about bashing or punishing landlords. It is about raising the bar. The proposed changes are aimed at improving stability, security, and standards in rented homes. And if you’re a landlord already providing decent, well-managed accommodation, there’s really not much to fear.
For some landlords, the Bill might be a bit of a wake-up call; that is how I would urge sensible, invested landlords to treat it – those landlords in this for the long haul. Treat it as a reminder to tighten up systems, refresh tired properties that deserve refreshing, and if it highlights areas where they do have any gaps in their paperwork, treat it as a prime opportunity to finally bring that paperwork up to scratch and get those ducks in a row.
There are plenty of upsides, once we get through the other side. Fewer void periods, more reliable tenants, better long-term returns. Yes, tenants have an ability to abandon the property at any given moment with a month’s notice… history however tells us that tenants mainly prefer longevity, not short-termism. Over the course of time, any disappointments you might have from a tenancy ending earlier than you might like, will more than likely be offset by long-term tenants really deciding to make your property their long-term home – and treating it as such.
Of course, that is also where a good letting agent combined with a good property manager will come into their own – identifying the tenant who has reasons to stay longer, and managing their tenure there in a way that encourages them to look after the property and stay for as long as possible – whilst maintain the sort of regular rent reviews a landlord should expect.
If managed correctly, this could simply become a reality where doing the right thing is also the smart thing.
HMOs Are Still Part of the Picture — But They Have to Be Done Right
Tenants in 2025 expect more. They want decent, fast Wi-Fi, clean and functional kitchens, responsive property management, and ideally a bit of style. A slapped-together HMO just doesn’t cut it in 2025 — not in this market, and not with this legislation coming down the track.
So if you’re managing or considering an HMO, now’s the time to get it right. Shared areas that are frequently clean, and where furniture is robust as well as modern. Smart, clean bathrooms, and enough to go round. An en-suite bedroom is the ideal, but if not, make sure there are plenty to go around the tenants in place.
It is also about the house-share. Who do you have in? What is the makeup? How well do the tenants gel? All these things come into play when successfully managing shared homes.
A Professional Future for Professional Landlords
Lettings is growing up – and with it, regulation is catching up. The days of hands-off, corner-cutting landlords are well and truly numbered – and much as there are headaches to come from this new bill, as far as it goes that has to be a good thing.
And this is where the opportunity lies! Those landlords who do it well are the ones who will thrive.
And we’re here to help them do just that.
At Your Home Managed, we bring together experience, straight-talking advice, and hands-on local knowledge. We’re proud to manage homes that people want to live in, and proud to work with landlords who care about the long-term by caring about the lives of the tenants we place in their properties.
If that sounds like you, give us a call. The market is changing… but change brings opportunity.
