BAN ON RENTAL BIDDING
Accepting offers above the advertised rent will no longer be permitted.
Landlords must clearly advertise the asking rent upfront, and any informal bidding or negotiation over price will be prohibited. This requires lettings to be conducted with full transparency and consistency.
We ensure your advertising remains compliant with these rules, helping to avoid tenant complaints or fines. Marketing efforts will need to focus on property quality rather than price competition.
Under the current system, especially in high-demand areas, informal rental bidding where prospective tenants offer above the advertised rent to secure a property has become increasingly common. While this practice has enabled landlords to maximise yields in hot markets, it has also created affordability pressures, reduced transparency, and contributed to an uneven playing field among applicants.
The Renters Rights Bill introduces a complete ban on rental bidding. Landlords and agents will no longer be permitted to accept or invite offers above the advertised rent, whether formally or informally. This applies to all private tenancies and is part of a wider push by the government to promote fairness, clarity, and equal access in the lettings process.
Going forward, the advertised rent must be fixed and clearly stated upfront, with no scope for negotiated increases during the application process. Even where tenants voluntarily offer to pay more, landlords are legally obligated to reject these offers and stick to the published figure.
This rule is designed to reduce competitive pressure on renters, particularly those with lower incomes or limited flexibility. For landlords, it means that letting strategies must shift away from price-driven competition and focus more on presenting the property accurately, maintaining standards, and attracting suitable long-term tenants through quality, not pricing leverage.
Letting agents and landlords will be expected to demonstrate full compliance, including transparent and consistent marketing practices. Accepting higher offers or failing to display a clear asking rent could result in penalties, formal complaints, or reputational risk via the Private Rented Sector Ombudsman.
Listings will therefore need to be compliant by design, with property descriptions, pricing, and communications reviewed carefully before going live. Marketing will need to focus on the value of the property itself - location, condition, amenities, and management- not variable pricing.
We provide support in reviewing marketing materials, aligning your listings with the new legal requirements, and ensuring your letting practices remain compliant and professional, protecting your business from scrutiny or sanction.
In Summary:
- You’ll no longer be allowed to accept offers above the advertised rent.
- The asking rent must be stated clearly upfront - no informal bidding.
- Bidding wars will be illegal, even if initiated by applicants.
- Lettings must be handled with full transparency and consistency.
- All advertising and pricing must be compliant from the outset.
- Breaches may lead to fines, tenant complaints, or Ombudsman action.
- Listings must now emphasise property quality, not price escalation.
- We help ensure your marketing and pricing strategies are fully compliant.
Renters Rights Ready is a dedicated lettings consultancy helping landlords and agents navigate the ever-evolving landscape of UK lettings legislation.
With over a decade of hands-on experience across both independent and corporate lettings agencies, we specialise in the practical side of compliance, from reissuing tenancy agreements and drafting Section 13 notices, to delivering full audits of property portfolios.
We work with landlords and agents of all sizes, from individual owners to multi-property investors, independent offices to multi-branch corporates, offering clear, tailored guidance that’s grounded in real-world lettings operations, not legal theory.
Our mission is simple:
To keep landlords and agents compliant, confident, and focused on what they do best, while we handle the paperwork.
We've got the admin covered. Make sure you're Renters Rights Ready.