Assured Periodic Tenancy Agreement (APT)

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 includes measures to prohibit upward-only rent reviews in new business leases in England and Wales. Propertymark supports measures that help businesses access suitable premises and contribute to stronger high streets. However, changes to commercial lease structures must also maintain confidence for landlords and investors who fund, maintain, and improve commercial property.

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published a new data collection strategy to support monitoring of the private rented sector (PRS) and evaluate the impact of the Renters’ Rights Act in England. The paper sets out how surveys, local authority data, court and tribunal data, the new PRS Database, Ombudsman Information, and market evidence will be utilised to assess how the reforms are working in practice.

Local housing authorities in England have gained new investigatory powers under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, including the ability to enter rental sector business premises as part of enforcement activity. Officers can request and seize documents, but their powers are not unlimited. Agents should know what officers can lawfully ask for, what notice should be given in routine cases, and what protections apply to legally confidential material.