Worried rental reform is about to pile even more admin onto your desk?
You’re not alone. With the Renters Reform Bill on the horizon – and the end of Section 21 firmly in sight – many letting agents are bracing for a surge in paperwork, legal checks and compliance tasks.
Some experts are predicting it could mean an extra 100 hours a month of admin for letting agents.
But the new regulation doesn’t have to mean more manual work. With the right tools in place, you can absorb the changes without adding pressure to your team.
That’s where Alto comes in. As the UK’s most trusted lettings CRM, Alto helps agents automate tenancy progression, reduce compliance risks and save serious admin time – up to 40 hours per user, per month.
In this article, we’ll explore how the right CRM can take the stress out of rental reform – without any extra admin or extra hires.
What’s changing under rental reform?
Expected to come into force in early 2026, the Renters’ Reform Bill is set to shake up the way agents work day-to-day – especially when it comes to admin.
Here’s a rundown of some of the key changes letting agents should know about:
- No more Section 21
‘No-fault’ evictions are being scrapped, so landlords will need clear legal grounds to regain possession. The abolition of Section 21 is likely to be prioritised and could take effect as soon as autumn 2025. - All tenancies become periodic
Fixed terms are out. Tenants can leave with two months’ notice, any time – which means more churn, more comms and tighter tracking. - Section 8 gets more complex
Possession will rely on updated, stricter grounds. That means more legal checks, more notice rules and more paperwork. - New national portal and ombudsman
Every property and landlord must be registered. Disputes will go through a formal ombudsman, adding new compliance layers. - Higher standards, tougher enforcement
Homes must meet the Decent Homes Standard, and hazards like damp must be resolved fast, or landlords will face penalties.
What it means for you: You’ll need to communicate more, document more and stay on top of every update. This will mean a lot of workarounds, extra effort and spreadsheets – unless you’re using a smart CRM like Alto.
Why rental reform could mean lots more admin
Rental reform could add up to 100 hours of admin a month for every agency as letting agents scramble to keep up with new rules and regulations on behalf of their landlords.
Where’s the extra admin coming from? Here’s what’s likely to drive the surge:
- Rolling contracts will need constant tracking. With fixed terms out, agents must monitor tenancy status continuously – not just at renewal.
- More checks and tighter deadlines. Safety certificates, repairs and compliance tasks will come with stricter rules and shorter turnaround times.
- Possession now needs proof. Section 8 notices will require documented evidence of grounds, which takes time, accuracy and often senior oversight.
- Every action needs a record. Clear audit trails and consistent communication are essential – especially if disputes reach the ombudsman.
How Alto handles the admin – so you don’t have to
With Alto, letting agents cut tenancy processing time by 65% and save over 40 hours of admin each month, per user. Here’s how:
- Track every tenancy in one place
Manage the full journey – from offers and referencing to Right to Rent checks, contracts and move-ins – in one streamlined dashboard. Nothing gets missed, and every step stays on track. - Automate repetitive tasks
From shortlisting applicants to issuing invoices and confirming Right to Rent, Alto automates time-consuming steps so your team can focus on higher-value work. - Stay on top of compliance
Store certificates, documents, payments and comms securely. Get alerts before key documents expire and maintain a full audit trail without doing the legwork. - Keep communications centralised
Alto sends automatic updates to tenants and landlords and keeps all messages in one place – reducing back-and-forth and avoiding costly errors. - Save serious admin time
Alto eliminates manual tasks, double handling and constant switching between tools – saving over 40 hours a month, per user.
Rental reform is a major challenge – Alto is the solution
There’s no doubt rental reform will reshape the way agents work, but it doesn’t have to be a setback. With the right systems in place, it can be the catalyst for a better way of working.
Alto already helps agents save over 40 hours of admin per user, per month (and that’s before rental reform kicks in).
With Alto, everything is managed in one place – from tenancy progression to compliance, document storage and communication.
Thanks to built-in automation and full visibility (even across multiple branches), your team can stay in control and get more done, without needing extra admin support.
What letting agents are saying about Alto
More than 6,000 agents across the UK are already prepared for rental reform and feeling the benefits of using a dedicated CRM for letting agents.
- Reside Manchester saved over 160 hours a month through automation. Founder Anthony Stankard says: “We looked at a lot of options, but Alto was the only one that genuinely did everything. It gave us that single source of truth. It felt like clarity.”
- Mint Homes cut their admin time in half. Owner and director Helen Westwell says: “We’re now in a position to take on more properties without needing to expand our team proportionally. Alto has essentially created headroom for growth without adding overhead.”
- Chase Buchanan has experienced time savings across all eight of its branches. Managing director Colin Deer says: “The amount of time we’ve saved is huge. Alto helps us focus on service, not systems and that’s exactly what we needed.”
- Cheffins has seen huge results from our advanced lettings reports across its five branches. Lettings Director Christina Harris, says: “Alto’s advanced reporting is game changing. I can spot trends, make faster decisions, and have more meaningful conversations with my team about performance. The report marries up to the penny with our accountant’s figures. Our annual goals and monthly reviews are clearer, and I can represent lettings with much more confidence and accuracy in our meetings.”
Ready to get ahead of rental reform?
Automate lettings, stay compliant and save 40+ hours a month with Alto letting software.
