Landlords warn Renters' Rights Act plan meaningless without detail

Key guidance needs to be published by the Government as a matter of urgency if its Renters’ Rights roadmap has any chance of succeeding.

We issued the warning after it was revealed the first of the changes coming in under the new Act will be introduced on 1st May next year.

This is despite the fact that essential information - including details as to what must be included in new tenancy agreements – is yet to be made public.

We had called for the implementation date to come six months after this detail had been confirmed - yet the published timeline suggests it will be January before it is finalised.

Our chief executive Ben Beadle is now urging the Government to act quickly to provide the information ahead of time.

He said: “The announcement of a commencement date for these important reforms is welcome. However, a deadline alone is not enough. 

“We have argued consistently that landlords and property businesses need at least six months from the publication of regulations to ensure the sector is properly prepared for the biggest changes it has faced for over 40 years.

“Unless the Government urgently publishes all the guidance documents and written material needed to update tenancy agreements to reflect the changes to come, the plan will prove less a roadmap and more a path to inevitable failure.

“Without this, landlords, tenants, agents, councils and the courts will be left without the information required to adapt, creating utter confusion at the very moment clarity is most needed."

He also demanded action on court reform - with a huge influx of cases expected, adding: "Ministers also need to explain how the county court will be ready to process legitimate possession cases far more swiftly than at present.

“As the cross-party Justice Committee has rightly warned, the court is simply dysfunctional.

"Vague assurances about digitisation, without an idea of what that means in practice, are simply not good enough.”

What’s happening on May 1?

The May deadline will see:

First, we need to be clear on exactly what will happen on commencement date, as not all the provisions of the Act will come in at once.  

In short, the provisions of the Act coming in on 1st May include:  

• The loss of section 21, the so called ‘no-fault’ eviction. 
• The loss of the fixed term, with most tenancies becoming periodic by default. 
• Restrictions on rent in advance.

It will also become illegal for landlords to: 

• increase rents more than once a year  
• encourage rental bidding wars  
• discriminate against potential tenants, because they receive benefits or have children. 

There will also be new penalties of up to £40,000 for getting things wrong. Other elements of the Act will be introduced later in 2026 and some later still – something you can read more about here.

Why is the transition period so important?

We have argued it is vital you have sufficient time to:

• Inform tenants about changes to their tenancy agreements.
• Access appropriate guidance and training 
• Get clarity on the the updated Housing Health and Safety Rating System
• Adjust policies and rates with insurance and mortgage providers.
• Ensure your solicitor is up to speed with the changes
• Update computer systems and documentation

It is also key that court procedures are adapted to cater for the influx of in-person hearings  - and that the Property Tribunal is prepared for an increase in the number of rent appeals. Agents, too, will need time to update their processes.

What happens next?

We are  now lobbying Government to publish the necessary information as a matter of urgency.

In the meantime, we have a comprehensive suite of advice and support on offer including:

• Our Navigator tool, offering you your personalised "to-do list” tailored to your needs, which can be accessed here. 
• Affordable training options.
• Compliance arm Safe2 and property management platform Portfolio, which can help when it comes to ensuring all your documentations and safety certificates are up to data and safely stored   
• You can also check out our Renters’ Rights Bill Hub for guidance on what you can do to prepare now, and join one of our exclusive member webinars scheduled to take place fortnightly throughout the transition period. 

Click the link below to hear what our chief policy officer, Chris Norris has to say on the announcement.