Think hiring a letting agent means compliance is no longer your concern? Think again.
For many landlords, working with a letting agent makes managing a property easier. An agent may handle tenant communication, inspections, paperwork and day-to-day management, giving landlords more time to focus on their wider portfolio.
But when it comes to compliance, handing over the day-to-day work does not necessarily mean you can stop keeping track of what is happening.
With the Renters' Rights Act now changing the way private rented properties are managed in England, the importance of knowing who is responsible for each compliance task has only increased.
What happens when you use a letting agent?
A landlord can appoint an agent to act on their behalf, including carrying out certain duties. In some circumstances, an agent can also be responsible for specific compliance requirements and may be liable where they fail to meet those obligations.
However, landlords should not simply assume that appointing an agent automatically removes their own responsibilities.
The exact position depends on the requirement involved, the role the agent has agreed to undertake and, in some cases, whether responsibility has been formally transferred.
This is particularly important for areas such as Right to Rent checks, property licensing, safety requirements, tenancy administration and keeping the necessary records.
The government's guidance on the Renters' Rights Act confirms that landlords can use people acting on their behalf, including letting agents, to meet their duties. It also makes clear that people acting on a landlord's behalf can potentially be liable for breaches themselves.
In other words, using an agent does not mean you should stop paying attention to compliance.
The real risk: not knowing what has been done
One of the biggest challenges for landlords is not necessarily carrying out every compliance task themselves. It is knowing whether those tasks have actually been completed and having the evidence to show it.
Imagine you have several properties managed by an agent.
One property has an EPC approaching expiry. Another needs an EICR renewal. A tenant's Right to Rent status requires a follow-up check. A licence needs renewing. Meanwhile, new requirements are coming into force.
If you are relying entirely on emails, spreadsheets and documents stored in different places, it can become difficult to see the bigger picture.
And if something is missed, discovering it after the deadline is not particularly helpful.
Compliance needs visibility, not just delegation
A good relationship with a letting agent should make compliance easier to manage, not make it invisible.
Landlords should know:
- Which compliance requirements apply to each property
- When certificates and checks are due
- Who is responsible for completing each task
- Whether a task has actually been completed
- Where the relevant evidence or documentation is stored
- When follow-up action is required
- What changes in legislation could affect the property
Having this information readily available gives landlords a clearer view of their portfolio and makes it easier to ask the right questions of their agent.
The Renters' Rights Act adds to the need for better organisation
The Renters' Rights Act introduced major changes to private renting in England from 1 May 2026, including changes to tenancy arrangements, rental processes and enforcement.
The government has also introduced enforcement measures covering breaches of the new tenancy system. Depending on the breach, financial penalties can apply, with more serious offences carrying significantly greater consequences.
At the same time, landlords still need to comply with existing requirements that have not been replaced by the Act.
This means compliance is becoming less about completing one-off pieces of paperwork and more about continuously managing information, dates, documents and responsibilities across a property portfolio.
That is where organisation becomes particularly important.
Your agent manages the property. You should still understand the compliance picture.
There is a difference between managing compliance and being aware of compliance.
You may not personally arrange every inspection, contact every contractor or carry out every check. Your letting agent may handle much of that for you.
But you should still be able to answer basic questions about your portfolio:
- What is due next?
- What has already been completed?
- Which properties need attention?
- Who is dealing with it?
- Where is the evidence?
These questions become even more important as the regulatory environment becomes more complex.
A simple compliance system can make a big difference
For landlords managing multiple properties, having one reliable place for property information can make it much easier to stay organised.
Instead of searching through emails or different folders for individual certificates, you can keep property details, documents, compliance dates and important information together.
Propell is designed to help landlords keep their property information organised in one place, with tools for managing documents and tracking key compliance dates such as EPC, EICR and Gas Safety requirements.
The goal isn't to replace your letting agent.
It is to give you a clearer view of your own portfolio.
Because even when someone else is managing the day-to-day work, knowing what is happening with your properties is still valuable.
The bottom line
Using a letting agent can take a significant amount of work off a landlord's plate. But compliance should not become something you completely lose sight of.
As rental regulation develops, landlords need clear records, clear responsibilities and an easy way to see what needs attention.
Your agent may be managing the property.
But you should still know what is happening with it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does using a letting agent remove a landlord's compliance responsibilities?
Not automatically. Landlords can appoint agents to carry out certain duties, and agents may be liable for some breaches depending on the responsibility they have accepted. The exact position depends on the particular legal requirement and the agreement between the landlord and agent.
What should landlords ask their letting agent about compliance?
Landlords should understand which compliance tasks the agent is responsible for, what checks are carried out, when they are due, how completed checks are recorded and where supporting documents are kept. It is also worth confirming how the agent will notify the landlord when action is required.
How can landlords keep track of compliance across multiple properties?
A centralised property management system can make it easier to keep documents, property information and important compliance dates together. This gives landlords a clearer overview of their portfolio and makes it easier to identify upcoming deadlines before they become problems.
