North-east residential lettings agency Xenia Lettings says it has seen a tenfold rise in instructions from property owners since the start of 2026 as private landlords seek expert help to navigate the Renters’ Rights Act, the biggest phase of which goes live on Friday.

The company, based in Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, has expanded its footprint to include Tyneside and County Durham, as well as Wearside.

Xenia Lettings provides fully managed and let-only property services for owners of houses, flats and entire apartment blocks across the region and is part of the Xenia group, which specialises in property management, private residential and student lettings throughout the north-west, Yorkshire, the Midlands and Scotland, as well as the north-east.

Managing agents are becoming the go-to

The Sunderland branch is headed by Jonathan Walker, who joined in January. Walker said: “The Renters’ Rights Act has many landlords worried about increased regulation and stricter rules. They are increasingly choosing to pay a managing agent rather than deal with these complex matters themselves. It could become a minefield for those who do not have professional support.

“Some landlords are instead choosing to sell their properties, often to new players in the sector. These new investors are keen to build their own portfolios and are attracted by strong rental yields in the north-east that are above the national average, contributing to further growth for our Sunderland branch.”

He said the region’s rental market remains buoyant, fuelled in part by expansion in the University of Sunderland’s student population, investment in Teesside Freeport, and major employers such as Amazon bringing more workers into the region.

“We are also seeing local authorities support people relocating to the area from London, where rents have simply become unaffordable,” he added.