Renters’ Rights - are you ready?

The countdown is on, and it is now just two weeks until the tenancy elements of the Renters’ Rights Act come into force. 

As the deadline approaches, we are reminding you what you need to do to prepare for the change up ahead. 

Last week we told you about our new landlord starter pack for assured periodic tenancies, which is the place to go for all the documents and checklists you need when setting up a new tenancy from 1st May. 

We  also have  a downloadable start of tenancy checklist, which will help you ensure you have met your obligations and, importantly, secure a signed record from your tenants confirming that you have done so.

But what about those of you with existing tenancies?

Our landlord support team has spoken to thousands of you about the new rules, with three topics dominating the phone lines. These include:  

1. The information sheet for existing tenants, and how and when to serve it.

2. Student Tenancies, and how to serve the right documentation now for repossession in the summer ahead of the new academic year. 

3. Eviction and the process for taking back possession after 1st May – and what can be done now. 

So, let’s take each of these in turn.

Information sheet

In short, you must provide existing tenants with an information sheet produced by the Government informing them of the changes. 

This four-page sheet must be served to all existing tenants any time before 31st May to comply with the new rules and it must be downloaded directly from the Government website here. 

It doesn’t include any new information but lets tenants know about how the changes will affect: 

• Possessions and notice periods. 

• The abolition of the fixed term.    

• Rent increases.    

• The right to keep a pet.   

• Student lets.   

It is mandatory to provide this, and if you fail to do so you could be hit with a £7,000 fine – going up to £40,000 if the issue is not resolved, or for repeat offenders. 

The sheet is for those with a fully, or partially, written tenancy. If your tenancy is entirely verbal you will instead need to use a written statement setting out the key terms of your tenancy, which is available from our website here. 

The information sheet should be sent to each tenant individually.  

To evidence you have served it we have created a document that your tenants can sign to prove they have received the information sheet, as well as guidance on how to serve it.. 

For more detail on this, and supplementary information, including what to do if your tenants won’t sign you can access our detailed guide here.

Student tenancies

Student tenancies are subject to additional rules, due to the unique nature of the market, which operates in line with the academic year.  

While fixed term tenancies will no longer exist, student landlords of HMOs can use a specific ground (4a) to take back possession of their properties ahead of the next academic year. 

You can only serve a Section 8 notice that includes this ground if you've first provided a written statement to the tenants that you may use the ground because you intend to let to another group of students - and if the current tenants are all students (or you reasonably believed they would become so during the tenancy.) 

For tenancies signed on or after 1st May, this notice needs to be given before the tenancy is agreed. 

This year, as the new rules are coming in mid-tenancy, landlords of existing student HMOs are being given special dispensation to help  manage the transition to the new rules. 

As a result student landlords will have until May 31st to provide this prior notice to tenants.  

After giving the prior notice, you can then serve a Section 8 notice using Ground 4a. There are also temporary rules that allow you to give two-months notice instead of the standard four-month notice.  

This shorter notice is only available if you serve a Section 8 notice by 31st July 2026, and can ask for possession up to until 30th September this year.

This will ensure properties are available for the new cohort of students starting the new academic year this autumn. 

As student tenants will also need to be provided with the information sheet (that needs to be given to all existing tenants) we are encouraging student landlords who wish to use ground 4a to serve both at the same time - ahead of the 31st May deadline. 

Serving the documents together will not only make things easier in terms of paperwork, but letting your student tenants know early means they will know where they stand and can start preparing. 

You can access a template for giving the Ground 4a written statement here.

Eviction process

As you will know, the act will remove the Section 21 repossession process – the so-called ‘no fault eviction’ and replace it with 23 mandatory and discretionary grounds under which you can repossess your property under Section 8. 

This will allow you to repossess if, for example, you want to move into the property yourself, or want a family member to move in, or if the tenant is in serious rent arrears or is committing anti-social behaviour. You can access the full list of grounds here. 

While Section 21 will cease to exist on 1st May,  as it stands, you can still issue a Section 21 notice before that deadline – giving you just two weeks to act.

If you do decide to do this, you must apply to the court for possession proceedings on or before 31st July this year, or the notice will be invalid. 

What do I need to remember?

The key dates for most landlords are the 1st May commencement date, when the Renters' Rights Act comes in – and the 31st May date, by which you must have served the information sheet.  

If you are a student HMO landlord, or plan to use section 21 in the coming fortnight, make a careful note of the dates outlined above to ensure you aren’t caught out.

More information

• To visit our Renters' Rights Hub, packed with information and resources to help you manage the transition, click here. 
• We have also developed an exclusive Navigator tool, offering you your personalised "to-do list” tailored to your needs, which can be accessed here. 
• The NRLA's award-winning training academy runs a comprehensive Renters' Rights Act training offer. Click here to book your place.