Fixed‑term leases are also getting a makeover. The old rigid 12‑month ASTs are giving way to rolling, month‑by‑month agreements. Love your flat? Stay. Need to move? Move. Flexibility that actually fits your life, not the other way around.
And yes — bidding wars are officially out, which is a massive relief for renters across the country — but especially in London, where competition for flats has long felt like a high-stakes sport. Landlords and letting agents can no longer encourage offers above the advertised rent. That means no last‑minute panic clicking “increase offer,” no heart-racing stress over who’s willing to pay the most. The rent listed is the rent you pay. Simple. Life‑affirming.
Upfront costs are being tamed, rent rises are capped, and landlords are now nudged to do what they’re meant to — fix broken things, communicate properly, and generally act like decent humans. Small tweaks, but in the world of renting, they make a huge difference.