01 Aug 2025 Cheltenham
The Home Buyers Dictionary: Important Terms To Know…
With summer in full swing and the property market adapting to seasonal patterns and legislative changes, it’s the perfect time to take stock. Whether you’re a seasoned landlord or just thinking about letting, here’s a look at what’s shaping the rental market right now — and the key updates on government reforms that could affect you later this year.
As we pass the halfway point of 2025, we wanted to share a quick update on what’s happening in the local rental market and what upcoming changes in legislation might mean for you.
Rental Market Snapshot – Summer 2025
Across the Cotswolds, Vale of White Horse & Wiltshire, tenant demand remains high, and we’re continuing to see strong interest in well-presented, energy-efficient homes, with demand often outpacing supply.
The rise in temperature in the recent few weeks has caused viewings to be lower than normal with people opting for parks and beaches rather than property viewings but this is a temporary blip! As the schools break up for summer we’ll be back to normal with people hunting for their new homes!
Key trends:
- Rental prices have remained steady, with modest increases in most areas due to limited stock.
- Pet-friendly properties are increasingly popular, particularly among long-term tenants.
- Professional tenants relocating from cities continue to favour the Cotswolds for remote or hybrid working, bringing with them higher expectations in terms of finish and functionality.
If you’re considering reviewing your rental value, refreshing your property, or expanding your portfolio, now is a great time to speak with us.
What Landlords Need to Know: Renters’ Rights Update
We’ve communicated previously but for those of you who may have missed it, you may have seen recent headlines around the Renters Rights Bill, which continues to work its way through Parliament.
We now have an update.
- The Renters Rights Bill will not become law until the early autumn – and that’s official.
- The Leader of the House of Commons, Lucy Powell MP, announced last night (17th July 2025) that she has not scheduled any time for MPs to debate the issue next week, before they break for their summer recess on the 23rd.
- It’s also been reported that Powell has instead scheduled consideration of amendments to the Bill for September 8th, a week after MPs return from their summer break.
- The Lords will still continue with its scheduled Third Reading of the Bill on Monday of next week (21st July 2025), but that is now expected to be a brief debate, leaving more detailed consideration of the many amendments already suggested by Peers until the Bill returns to the Commons after the summer.
- It’s likely that Royal Assent for the Bill will now happen before the Commons breaks up for their next recess on September 16, when politicians head for their party conferences.
Here are some of the key points currently proposed (subject to final approval):
- End of Section 21 (‘no fault’) evictions – Landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants without providing a valid reason under specific grounds. Do not panic as there are over 50 reasons you can give.
- A new single system of periodic tenancies – Fixed-term tenancies will be replaced with rolling contracts, giving tenants more flexibility but also allowing landlords to regain possession under the new grounds when needed.
- Stronger grounds for possession – Including situations where the landlord wishes to sell or move into the property themselves, with shorter notice periods for rent arrears or anti-social behaviour.
- Improved property standards – All rental homes will be required to meet a minimum Decent Homes Standard, something already familiar to many landlords, maintaining good-quality homes.
- Pet requests to be automatically considered – Tenants will have the right to request to keep a pet, and landlords must not unreasonably refuse. A higher deposit will be expected.
- There will be a government portal – All landlords will need to register on and upload details and documents relating to their properties.
How Perry Bishop Can Help
We’re here to guide you through these changes, from making sure your tenancy agreements are up to date, to advising on compliance, renewals, and managing relationships with tenants.
Whether you want to check your rental value, talk through the proposed reforms, or simply get expert advice on managing your property — our lettings team are just a call or click away.
📞 Get in touch today to book a free, no-obligation consultation.
Let’s make sure your investments remain well-managed, compliant, and profitable – now and in the future.
Sian Harris
Lettings Director
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