💛 Renters’ Rights Act Starts 1 May, What Landlords Should Do Now 💛
⏱️ 3-minute read
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 comes into force in England on 1 May. It introduces several important changes for landlords, particularly around tenancy structure, rent increases, and possession rules.
Even for landlords who do not manage property through an agent, there are a few key checks worth making before the deadline. Here are five practical actions to consider now.
🔑 Check Whether Section 21 Is Still Needed
Section 21 notices cannot be issued after April. From 1 May onwards, possession will only be possible using Section 8 and one of the statutory grounds.
If a change of tenancy arrangement or future possession may be required, this is something to review immediately before the deadline passes.
đź’· Review the Current Rent Level
From May, rent increases will be limited to once per year and must follow the Section 13 notice procedure with two months’ notice.
Checking whether the current rent reflects market conditions now can help avoid complications later. A realistic rent level also supports stable tenancies over the longer term.
đź“„ Provide the Official Information Sheet
The Government has produced a Renters’ Rights Act information sheet explaining how the changes affect tenants. You can DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
This must be issued to all existing tenants, including each named tenant, before the end of April. Copies can be provided by email, post, or by hand, but keeping proof of delivery is important.
Existing Assured Shorthold Tenancies will automatically become Assured Periodic Tenancies on 1 May, so a replacement tenancy agreement is not required unless one was never in place.
đź“‹ Make Sure Compliance Documents Are Up to Date
Gas safety certificates, electrical safety reports, and EPCs should all be checked to confirm they remain valid.
Deposits must stay protected within an approved scheme, and any licensing requirements should still be current where applicable.
These requirements are not new, but keeping everything up to date reduces risk as the new framework begins.
🏠Inspect the Property Condition
A routine inspection can help identify maintenance issues that may need attention following the winter period.
Addressing repairs early supports smoother tenancies and reduces the chance of problems later under the updated legislation.
🧾 What Is Not Required Yet
Two additional changes are expected later. A new Private Rented Sector Database and a Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman scheme will be introduced, but both are not active yet.
There is nothing landlords need to do about these at the moment.
Although we do not manage rental properties, changes like this affect many local homeowners and landlords, so we like to keep people informed as the legislation develops.
If a decision about selling a rental property is being considered, or if there are questions about the local property market following these changes, we are always happy to talk things through.
Thanks for reading
Michael
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