What changed on 1 May 2026
- Section 21 notices were abolished. To end a tenancy you now serve a section 8 notice citing one or more legal grounds.
- Fixed terms ended. Existing assured shorthold tenancies became assured periodic tenancies automatically, with no new agreement needed.
- Rent can only go up through a section 13 notice, and a tribunal can no longer backdate an increase or set it above the figure you proposed.
What every landlord should have done
The government's Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet had to reach existing tenants by 31 May 2026. If yours has not, send it now and keep proof.
- Give the Information Sheet to every tenant on a tenancy agreed before 1 May 2026.
- Stop using fixed-term agreements and section 21 notices for new lets.
- Check your deposit is protected and the prescribed information was given.
- Keep gas safety, electrical (EICR), EPC and smoke and carbon monoxide alarm records current.
Rent increases
Rent can rise once a year using the section 13 process. The new rent should reflect the local market, and tenants can challenge it at the First-tier Tribunal. Our annual rent review checks the market, sets a defensible figure and serves the notice correctly.
Fines
Missing the Information Sheet deadline risks a fine of up to £7,000 for a first breach and up to £40,000 for continued breaches, according to the NRLA.
What comes next
Further parts of the Act, including a landlord database and a new ombudsman for private landlords, are being phased in. Landlords who use SYND are kept up to date as each one starts.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Sources: NRLA, GOV.UK Information Sheet.