One Month for Agents to Meet Transparency Rules: The Impact of New Lettings Legislation

A Fresh Era of Openness for Letting Agents

Letting agents in the UK are facing an imminent deadline; within a month, regulations under the Consumer Rights Act will require all agents to prominently display a detailed breakdown of fees, confirm membership in a client money protection scheme, and specify which redress scheme they belong to—both in their offices and on their websites. These requirements, effective from 27 May, mark a significant step forward in boosting transparency and consumer confidence across the private rented sector.

The full legal guidelines, available on gov.uk, lay out exactly what letting agents must do and define ‘letting agency work’ as activities undertaken for either landlords seeking tenants or tenants searching for property. Notably, these obligations apply whether letting work is a business's main activity or just one part of a broader operation, underlining the wide reach of the new rules.

What the Legislation Means in Practice

Agents must now:

• Disclose a thorough list of all fees, charges, and extra costs, with no hidden elements
• Clearly state on all marketing material and their premises if they are members of a client money protection scheme
• Publicise the redress scheme of which they are a member
• Keep all information up to date and easily accessible online as well as in-branch

Failure to comply can result in financial penalties and reputational damage—making timely action essential.

Opportunities for Better Service & Trust

Beyond regulatory compliance, these transparency rules are an opportunity for letting agents to build stronger relationships with landlords and tenants. Clear, accessible information about charges can reduce misunderstandings, foster trust, and minimise end-of-tenancy disputes. The rules also help level the playing field, ensuring all agents operate with the same level of openness.

Digital Solutions for Effortless Compliance

Property management technology is playing a pivotal role in helping agents adapt to these requirements. By integrating solutions such as Help me Fix, letting agents can:

• Automate the updating of fee schedules and compliance documentation
• Instantly generate shareable reports detailing client money protection and redress membership
• Centralise communication and document storage for tenant records, reducing admin burdens

Using digital-first approaches, agents can quickly update and distribute required disclosures, making compliance simpler and more auditable.

“Legislation such as the Consumer Rights Act doesn’t just ensure compliance—it drives better standards across the industry. Adopting digital tools to manage transparency and compliance allows letting agents to provide a level of service that tenants and landlords increasingly expect.”
Ettan Bazil, Founder & CEO of Help me Fix

The Path to Industry-Wide Best Practice

With only a month before the new transparency rules take effect, letting agents should prioritise reviewing their current processes. Those that facilitate efficient updates, centralise records, and leverage digital compliance tools stand to benefit from both reduced risk and improved customer relationships. For further support, resources at Help me Fix offer agents integrated solutions for managing documentation, tenant communication, and repairs.

As the sector works to improve professionalism and consumer protection, strengthened transparency and smarter processes will play a key part in raising standards across the lettings industry.