Rightmove recently shared its latest financial update. While these updates are usually just for stock market analysts, this one matters to landlords because it shows where Rightmove is spending its money: building smart AI tools to change how people find homes to rent.

This update follows the launch of Rightmove’s new AI comparison tool, which helps renters compare listings side-by-side.

Here are the main ways these tech changes aim to help your rental business:

Fewer empty days between tenants (shorter void periods)

Instead of just filtering by price or location, tenants can now search using plain English, such as "two-bed house with a garden near a station that takes dogs".

Rightmove's data shows that renters using these AI tools spend more time looking at listings, save three times as many properties, and send three times as many enquiries. For landlords, matching renters to the right home faster should mean less time your property sits empty, paying mortgage costs yourself.

Letting agents get better-vetted tenants, faster

When a rental listing goes live, letting agents often get flooded with hundreds of enquiries, making it hard to identify the best applicants.

Rightmove’s new system automatically transcribes calls and summarises applicant details for agents. This lets your agent filter out unqualified or unsuitable applicants quickly, focus on serious candidates, and get reliable tenants referenced and moved in much faster.

Setting the exact right rent price

Setting your rent too high means your property sits empty; setting it too low means losing income.

Rightmove’s updated valuation systems look at live, local market data to track tenant demand in real time. This helps your letting agent give you realistic pricing advice, so you get the highest possible rent without overpricing yourself out of the market.

What landlords should ask their letting agent

Rightmove reports that 92% of letting agencies continue to use the portal. Since your agent is likely to be using these systems, ask them:

• Are you using Rightmove's AI call tools so we don't miss tenant enquiries out of hours?

• Are you using real-time portal data to help us review rent prices accurately at contract renewals?

• Are our advert descriptions written to show up in Rightmove's new smart search tools?

Why landlords need to stay ahead of the portal curve

As property portals transition from simple digital noticeboards into intelligent matching engines, landlords who understand these tools will be best placed to keep their properties fully let and maximise their rental profits.

Rather than viewing portal innovation as purely an agent-facing convenience, savvy investors recognise that AI algorithms now directly dictate how quickly properties gain visibility, how fast enquiries convert into vetted references, and how accurately peak market rents are captured.

Landlords who actively hold their letting agents accountable for adopting these digital tools, and make sure their listings are formatted for smart search engines should gain a distinct competitive edge in securing reliable, long-term tenancies in an increasingly digital market.