Peers Call for Swift Government Action on Property Agent Regulation and Short-Term Lets
The House of Lords held a pivotal debate on the Renters’ Rights Bill, during which senior peers urged the Government to take immediate action on two long-standing issues in the housing sector: the regulation of property agents (RoPA) and the unchecked rise of short-term holiday lets. Leading the discussion was Lord Best, a respected figure in housing policy, who emphasised the pressing need for reform to protect tenants and stabilise the private rented sector (PRS).
Peers expressed serious concern over the lack of statutory regulation governing letting and managing agents. The absence of mandatory qualifications, professional standards, and a formal regulatory body has, they argued, allowed inconsistencies and poor practices to persist. The proposed RoPA framework seeks to introduce minimum standards, a code of practice, and a dedicated regulator measures widely endorsed by consumer groups and housing professionals.
A significant portion of the debate also focused on the growing impact of short-term lets, particularly through online platforms, which have increasingly diverted residential properties away from long-term tenants. Members of the House highlighted how this trend is exacerbating housing shortages in urban centres and tourist-heavy regions, contributing to rising rents and diminishing housing stability.
To address these challenges, peers proposed the introduction of a national registration scheme for short-term lets, alongside enhanced powers for local authorities to manage and restrict conversions of residential properties into holiday accommodations. These measures aim to restore balance in the housing market and ensure communities are not hollowed out by commercial short-term rentals.
Criticism was also directed at the Government’s delay in implementing the RoPA recommendations, initially published in 2019. Many Lords voiced frustration at the lack of progress, warning that failure to act risks undermining trust in both the PRS and the wider housing strategy.
As the Renters’ Rights Bill continues through Parliament, the Lords’ intervention has added renewed urgency to long-overdue reforms. With growing public and political consensus, the call for immediate, meaningful legislation on property agent regulation and short-term lets is becoming increasingly difficult for ministers to ignore.
