My Partnerships counterpart, Max, and I have attended numerous Propertymark, NRLA, and Landlord Investor Events over the past six months, conversing with hundreds of landlords and real estate business owners about the significant changes coming to the industry. This is a brief overview of the most common pain points, complaints, and worries facing landlords in 2025.

The Renters’ Rights Bill

Not only is the RRB coming, it’s coming in hot!

• The abolition of Section 21

• Amendment of the eviction ground for non-payment of rent (1 month to 3 months)

• No more fixed-term tenancies

• Rent increase restrictions

• Changes to student lets and HMOs

• And plenty more that are equally inconvenient!

For landlords:

All these changes are coming at once, and although the industry has time to prepare, potential fines for breaching the new regulation for first-time offenders can be up to £7,000, and up to £40,000 for repeat offenders. Renters’ Rights Bill forums have by far been the most popular speaking engagements and panels at these events, proving that this bill isn’t just affecting your multi-million pound landlords in Mayfair, but also your blue-collar investors who’ve grafted enough to build up a portfolio, and are now being pressed to load off to larger corporate players.

For tenants:

As landlords become more exposed to financial and legal risks, we’re likely to see significant increases in rent over the next 12 to 18 months. With only one rent increase allowed per year and mounting pressure surrounding the cost of evictions and rent arrears, landlords will likely look to protect their position through stronger upfront cash flow, which may result in higher rental prices.

New Property Standards

While official guidance is still being clarified, many landlords we spoke to are anxious about anticipated changes to property standards — particularly around energy efficiency and safety requirements.

Many feel they’re being asked to meet unrealistic standards without clear financial support, adding yet another layer of stress to an already complex sector.

Paperwork Overload

Letting agents and landlords are reaching a breaking point with the volume of paperwork involved in their work.

After giving a talk on AI and its potential role in supporting landlords, I sat with two women who asked how ChatGPT and similar tools could help reduce their administrative burden.

They discussed the current challenges of selling property in central London and their plans to exit the property investment space — a sentiment that has become increasingly common since the announcement of the Renters’ Rights Bill. Their main reason? Endless documentation: from compliance and maintenance reports to tax submissions, renewal letters, and the need for total process updates whenever laws change.

Attitudes Toward AI

When we introduced LightWork AI and explained how automation can streamline admin-heavy processes, the responses were mixed.

Some landlords were amazed by the progress being made. Others were sceptical, citing concerns about AI replacing jobs. A number were simply indifferent. There is clearly a generational divide in the lettings sector — many older landlords are hesitant about AI, and some would rather leave the industry altogether than adapt to tech-driven models.

Their primary concern is that full automation will erode the personal relationships they’ve spent years building. For many smaller landlords, these relationships are their unique selling point — the reason tenants choose them over larger agencies.

That said, there’s a growing cohort of younger landlords eager for a tech-first approach.

They want a reliable, end-to-end AI solution that saves time, protects margins, and frees them up to focus on higher-value work — or simply enjoy more time away from it all. The challenge is one of trust. While AI is already capable of delivering tangible benefits, it remains unfamiliar to many, and adoption will depend on clear, tangible proof of its value.

Conclusion

The lettings industry is in the midst of profound transformation. Legislative change, increasing compliance demands, and shifting tenant expectations are reshaping what it means to be a landlord in the UK.

Technology — particularly AI — has the potential to reduce stress, increase profitability, and modernise outdated workflows. But adoption will only accelerate when landlords feel confident that these tools are built for them, not in place of them.

At LightWork AI, we’re committed to building that trust — one landlord, one step at a time.