Research from Alto found that nearly two-thirds (63%) of estate and lettings agents said economic uncertainty would be their biggest challenge.
The Alto 2026 Agency Trends Report revealed that rising operational costs and compliance issues are also a major concern.
79% of agents named the Renters’ Rights Bill as the biggest issue, followed by energy performance certificate (EPC) and energy-efficiency rules (50%) and local licensing schemes (36%).
Riccardo Iannucci-Dawson (pictured), CEO at Alto, said: “Agents are under siege from every direction, from inflation and insurance hikes to new laws and landlord losses.
“The renters’ rights bill is the most significant shake-up of the rental sector in a generation and will test many independents.
“At Alto, we’re already building new tools that make compliance simple and seamless, from bulk conversion of fixed-term to periodic tenancies, to automated rent-review alerts and updated legal templates.”
Iannucci-Dawson added: “Our goal is to take the admin and uncertainty out of reform so agents can stay compliant, protect income, and focus on delivering a great experience for landlords and tenants.
“The message from agents is clear: efficiency is survival. Agencies that automate and modernise – using AI to eliminate manual tasks and stop sales and lettings opportunities slipping through the cracks – can reduce risk, manage compliance more easily, and focus on what really matters: sales, growth and client service.
“These results show that those who embrace automation can turn compliance into a genuine competitive edge.”
