Advisory and member panel
Our panels have strengthened our governance and accountability
The advisory panel were only able to meet once in November, due to our Chair breaking his arm early in the year and then the tragic loss of our dear colleague Mike Morgan.
The key points discussed on 19 March were the general increase in case numbers compared to the same period the year before and increased enquiries from National Trading Standards on trends and issues identified. The Head of Redress summarised the previous year’s figures and early resolution success rates which would all be included in the 2024 Annual Report.
Our current member panel are:
Bruce Haagensen (Keystone Estate Agents Ltd)
Simon Zutshi (Property Investors Network)
Eric Walker (The Property Franchise Group)
Attiq Khan (NRG Consultant Group Ltd)
Rory Ballantyne (Ballantynes Scotland Ltd)
Nasar Hussain (Westbrooke)
Leona Leung (Alliance Financial Consultants Ltd)
Anthony Cicchirillo (Anthony Lettings Limited)
Mark Lynch (Lexi Lets Ltd)
Lisa Williamson (nolettinggo)
The Panel looked ahead at the Renters Rights Bill, the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill with the former coming in 2025 and the latter likely to take some time. The project for 2025 was to update our current Rent to rent documents which has been done although, guess what, it will all need an overhaul with the Renters Rights Act!
The first opportunity lies in professionalising operations to thrive under new regulation. The Renters' Rights Act will accelerate the exodus of amateur landlords, further constraining an already tight supply. With Savills forecasting 24.5% house price growth over five years to 2029, professional operators who invest in robust systems, proper compliance, responsive management and tenant retention strategies stand to capture both rental growth and long term capital appreciation."
Our current advisory panel is:
Soek Yee Ashley Wong (landlord)
Robert Brown (solicitor)
Richard Powell (retired MD at Ryder Dutton)
Rupert Collingwood (experienced property source)
Daniel Evans (Chair AIIC)
Mandy Chandler (Northwoods compliance director)
Jenny Markham (Letting partnership)
Grant Reardon (Stoke on Trent Trading Standards)
Robin Stewart (Anthony Gold)
Rajeev Nayyar (Prop tech (digital))
Cyril Thomas ( PEAS (property education association)
Leigh Young (Elliot Leigh rent to rent specialist)
Tracy Stanton (CRM students)
In 2025, letting agents encountered a year of transformation driven by regulation and technology. The most significant being the expected implementation of the Renters Rights Bill which became the Renters Rights Act 2025. This has moved the sector closer to the abolition of Section 21 “no-fault” evictions. This has required us to guide landlords through new and upcoming compliance and processes, increasing the advisory role agents play."
In November 2025, both panels met a week apart, and each meeting started with a minute’s silence, in tribute to Mike.
After the Head of Redress reported on our membership, complaints and compliance statistics, the main topic discussed was, unsurprisingly, the Renter Rights Act, which was close to being passed and the secondary legislation that will be needed as well as contracts and procurements for some parts of the new law.
The panel's concerns were that the industry would not be fully prepared, but recognised that there were some benefits, such as making it easier for tenants to have pets. The impact on Property Redress is the potential for complaints to increase against agents who have done something incorrectly out of line with the new requirements. Additional topics discussed as part of the new legislation were landlord redress and the property portal with the current consultations on leasehold reform, home buying, material information and Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Lots ahead for 2026 and very relevant updates for the industry.
Scotland words - 2025 was a year which the market stabilised in lettings and grew modestly in sales. Q2 2025 showed the average rental value of £1250 pcm which is the highest on record. With the Greens now out of the political picture in Government the public lambasting of landlords has abated and the number of available properties have started to climb albeit modestly. Sales continue to be steady but with Scottish elections coming in a very turbulent UK political picture no one can be sure what post-election Scotland will look like.” Rory Ballantyne (Ballantynes Scotland Ltd)
"I hope 2026 marks the beginning of some long overdue structural change within the industry itself. Innovation has been quietly building for the past 24 months, and tighter market conditions have a habit of accelerating reform."
Rupert Collingwood (experienced property sourcer)
“My focus for 2026 is on encouraging the use of technology that genuinely improves day-to-day experiences for tenants and landlords. That means clearer communication, better records of what has happened and when, and fewer misunderstandings that later turn into formal complaints."
"As a high street letting agency owner, my key takeaways are clear: continually encourage staff to achieve a minimum Level 3 industry qualification, to keep educating Let Only clients on RRA, and to closely monitor and track new court cases arising as a result of the implicated RRA."
“In light of the new legislation being introduced in 2026, my three principal goals would be to prevent and respond effectively to evictions, advise and educate landlords on their new legal obligations, and ensure that local authorities are fully equipped to meet emerging challenges.”
“Our main three goals are: standardising systems and processes to deliver consistent, high-quality service, embracing adaptability through smarter tools and market insights to empower our team, and capitalising on market shifts to drive growth and expansion in 2026."
"With the introduction of the Renters' Rights Act and its stricter Section 8 grounds for possession, it is more important than ever to vet potential tenants and ensure there is adequate insurance coverage in place should the tenant default."
