Nearly half of UK landlords intend to inspect their rental properties no more than once annually following the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act in May, according to survey data from property inspection platform Inventory Base.
The survey of 885 landlords found that 46% plan to conduct inspections once a year or less frequently, despite the legislation replacing fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies with periodic tenancies, which removes the natural checkpoint provided by contract renewals.
Survey findings
Of the landlords surveyed, 26% indicated they would conduct annual inspections, whilst 3% said they would inspect less than once per year. A further 18% stated they would only carry out inspections when tenants report problems.
The findings suggest that inspection frequency may not increase to compensate for the loss of fixed-term contract endpoints, which traditionally provided opportunities to assess property condition.
Siân Hemming-Metcalfe, Operations Director at Inventory Base, stated: “As the Renters’ Rights Act reshapes the private rental sector, landlords and agents will need to move beyond treating inspections as isolated reports and start building a continuous understanding of how their properties perform over time.”
Implications for property management
Hemming-Metcalfe noted that with indefinite periodic tenancies replacing fixed terms, properties may remain occupied for extended periods without the reset point previously provided by new tenancy agreements. “That means property management can no longer rely on occasional snapshots of condition,” she said.
The Renters’ Rights Act, set to take effect in May, represents a significant shift in the UK rental market structure, moving away from the fixed-term tenancy model that has been standard practice.
The survey results indicate that many landlords have not yet adjusted their property management practices to account for the legislative changes, potentially creating risks around property maintenance oversight during longer tenancy periods.
