The Renters' Rights Act - Six Months On
Six months after Phase 1 of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 came into force on 1st May 2026, the private rented sector in England is operating under a different legal framework. Section 21 has gone, every assured shorthold tenancy has become an assured periodic tenancy and Section 8 Notice (Form 3A) is the only legal route to possession.
The picture six months on is mixed. Landlords and letting agents who prepared well have found the new rules workable and in some respects clearer. Others have been caught out by procedural changes, tribunal challenges and confusion over the notice period when tenants serve notice.
The PRS Landlord Database - Some Key Questions & Answers
Yesterday the government published guidance on the Register Your Property Service as it will be known.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published the guidance to assist landlords, letting agents and third parties registering on behalf of landlords navigate the new service and understand what actions they need to take.
Here are some key questions and answers for agents and property managers.
Do Letting Agents and Property Managers have to use the service?
No. Helping landlords register is optional. At launch, the service will let your team enter some property details for a landlord and keep them up to date.
Government Publishes Guidance for PRS Landlord Database
Yesterday the government published guidance on the Register Your Property Service as it will be known.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published the guidance to assist landlords, letting agents and third parties registering on behalf of landlords navigate the new service and understand what actions they need to take.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will also publish guidance for local councils.
Additional information – and all the deadlines - can be found the dedicated website https://lnkd.in/eQWUU_tK
Guidance for Landlords - https://lnkd.in/ezkZHcae
Guidance for Letting Agents & Property Managers - https://lnkd.in/e5X_qukM
Guidance for Third Parties - https://lnkd.in/eu9DpYaY
Audit Property Adverts, Referencing Processes and Notices
Almost six months after Phase 1 of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 came into force, enforcement is no longer a future concern. An agent has been fined for breaching the Act and councils across England are now publishing their enforcement policies, setting out exactly what they will be looking for and what breaches will cost landlords and letting agents.
For letting agents, the message is clear, a routine slip - error - omission - repeated across dozens of tenancies, for example, property details, a referencing question that has not been reviewed or a notice template that pre-dates 1st May 2026.