Is your agent charging extra since the Renters' Rights Act?

Phase one of the Renters' Rights Act began on 1 May 2026. Trade press reports landlords seeing higher agent costs. A Goodlord poll of almost 250 UK landlords, reported by Property Industry Eye, found 23% had seen agent fees increase since the law came in, and half reported a heavier compliance burden. Property Industry Eye has also reported landlords raising concerns about extra administration fees, and notes that many existing management agreements do not mention the Act at all (article).

So it is fair to ask your agent what has changed. Here is a checklist, followed by the extra charges North East agents publish on their own fee pages.

Ten questions to ask your agent

Does my management agreement mention the Renters' Rights Act? If not, what has changed in writing?
Have you added a new fixed or monthly compliance charge since 1 May 2026? How much, and from when?
What do you charge to serve a rent increase notice, and how often will I pay it?
What do you charge if I need to serve a possession notice?
Will you register me and my property on the new landlord database when it opens, and what will you charge?
Fixed terms have ended. What replaces the renewal fee, if anything?
Do you charge to handle a council licence application, and is the council fee on top?
Are the tenant checks (referencing, Right to Rent, anti money laundering and sanctions) included, or charged per tenant?
Is VAT included in every figure you give me?
Will you give me notice, in writing, before any charge changes?

What North East agents publish

None of these agents labels its charge as a Renters' Rights Act charge. We list them because they are the kinds of extras landlords ask about. Figures are as shown on each fee page when we checked, so open the agent page for the date and the source.

Notices and rent reviews

Bowson: Section 13 notice £90, Ground 4A notice £90, statutory declaration £42.
Manners & Harrison: Section 21 or Section 8 notice £210; tenancy extension and rent review £300. Section 21 notices ended on 1 May 2026, so ask whether that charge still applies.
Bridgfords: rent review £300.
J W Wood: rent review £144.

Compliance and checks

Bridgfords: landlord regulation checks £11.40 a month.
Manners & Harrison: deposit compliance £60 a year.
Lennon Properties - North East: tenancy agreement and compliance pack £120 (marked with an asterisk, and the page does not say which services it applies to).
youngsRPS: a Compliance management (Gold +) tier priced at £625 or 50%, plus 10% (VAT not stated).
J W Wood: sanction checks £49 on every service.
Lucas James: Right to Rent £20, anti money laundering £15 and sanctions £10, per tenant.

Redress scheme and database fees

Hackett Property: a £60 redress scheme registration fee and a £60 database entry fee.
Swift Moves: redress scheme registration and database entry fees are listed as to be confirmed.

Periodic tenancies

Rook Matthews Sayer: periodic tenancy arrangement £180.

Licence applications

Seven agents list a charge for handling a council licence application. They are on our licensing page, next to each council's own fee.

If an agent is not listed here

It may charge for these things without publishing the price. Ask, and ask for the answer in writing. If you find a charge on an agent's page that we have missed, tell us.

For the dates and what the Act changes, see the Renters' Rights Act guide for landlords.

This is general information, not legal advice.

Fees change. Always check the agent's own fee page before you sign.