From 1 May 2026, the Renters’ Rights Act introduces new rules to make renting fairer and more transparent. One of the key changes is a ban on rental bidding. This means tenants should no longer feel pressured to offer more than the advertised rent to secure a property.
Under these new rules, all rental properties must be marketed with a clear asking price, and that price should be the amount agreed between landlord and tenant.
How This Affects Your Rental Property
- Properties must be advertised with a clear asking rent
- Landlords and agents cannot invite or encourage offers above the advertised rent
- Accepting higher offers as part of a bidding process is not permitted
- This means the advertised rent must be the agreed rent, creating a more consistent and transparent approach to pricing.
- Failure to comply with these rules may result in enforcement action or financial penalties.
- For managed tenancies, we will ensure all marketing and negotiations are carried out in line with these requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can tenants still offer more than the asking rent?
No. The new rules are designed to remove bidding altogether and keep pricing fair.
2. What if multiple tenants are interested?
Landlords and agents must assess applications based on suitability, not price.