Renters' Rights Act 2026 Checklist — Everything Landlords Must Do Before 1st May

Renters' Rights Act 2026 Checklist — Everything Landlords Must Do Before 1st May

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 comes into force on 1st May 2026. This is the biggest change to English tenancy law in over 30 years.

Section 21 is abolished. All tenancies become periodic. New mandatory documents are required. Fines start at £7,000.

Here is every obligation you need to meet — with clear deadlines.

Before 30th April 2026

Section 21 — Last chance

The last date to serve a valid Section 21 notice is 30th April 2026. After that date, no new Section 21 notices can be served, ever.

If you have a tenant you are considering seeking possession from and you have a valid reason to use Section 21, you must serve it before 30th April. Once you have served it, you must apply to the court for a possession order by 31st July 2026 — that is the hard deadline for proceedings.

After 31st July 2026, even previously served Section 21 notices cannot be relied upon in court.

From 1st May 2026 — New Tenancies

Every landlord granting a new tenancy from 1st May 2026 must:

✅ Provide a Written Statement of Terms

Before the tenant signs, you must provide a Written Statement of Terms covering all prescribed information — rent, deposit, notice periods, landlord obligations, tenant rights, pet policy and more.

Fine for non-compliance: up to £7,000

Read our full guide to the Written Statement of Terms

✅ Use an Assured Periodic Tenancy

Fixed-term Assured Shorthold Tenancies no longer exist. All new tenancies must be Assured Periodic Tenancies — periodic from day one, rolling monthly, with no fixed end date.

✅ Provide the Government Information Sheet

For new tenancies from 1st May 2026, you must provide tenants with the official Government Information Sheet explaining the Renters' Rights Act and how it affects their tenancy. This must be delivered as a printed hard copy or PDF attachment — sending a link is not valid.

✅ Protect the deposit within 30 days

No change here — but worth confirming. Deposit must be protected in an approved scheme (DPS, TDS or MyDeposits) within 30 days of receipt, and prescribed information provided to the tenant.

By 31st May 2026 — Existing Tenancies

For tenants who already have a written tenancy agreement signed before 1st May 2026:

✅ Provide the Government Information Sheet

You must provide every existing tenant with the official Government Information Sheet by 31st May 2026. It must be delivered as a printed hard copy by post or hand, or as a PDF attachment to an email or text message. Sending a link is not valid.

Fine for non-compliance: up to £7,000

✅ Verbal tenancies — Written Statement required

If any of your tenancies are wholly or partly verbal (not fully in writing), you must provide those tenants with a full Written Statement of Terms by 31st May 2026.

Ongoing from 1st May 2026

✅ Use Section 8 for all possession claims

Section 21 is gone. For any possession claim from 1st May 2026, you must use Section 8 and rely on a specific legal ground. Make sure you understand the key grounds and their notice periods before you need them.

Read our Section 8 guide for 2026

✅ Rent increases — Section 13 only

Any rent increase clause in an existing tenancy agreement is void from 1st May 2026. You can only increase rent using the Section 13 process — serving a Form 4A notice giving the tenant 2 months' notice. Rent can only be increased once every 12 months.

✅ Pet requests — respond within 42 days

From 1st May 2026, tenants have a statutory right to request permission to keep a pet. You must respond in writing within 42 days. You cannot unreasonably refuse. Silence for 42 days means automatic consent.

✅ No discrimination against benefits tenants or families

From 1st May 2026 it is illegal to discriminate against prospective tenants in receipt of housing benefit or with children. You cannot advertise "no DSS" or "no children."

Quick Reference — Key Dates

Fine Summary

Your Free Compliance Checklist

RentersRightsAct.info provides a free interactive compliance checklist for private landlords — tracking every obligation with a countdown to 1st May 2026.

Open the free compliance checklist

Landlord Pro members also get access to all AI-generated document templates — Written Statement of Terms, Section 8 Notice, Form 4A Rent Review Letter, Ground 4A Student Notice and Pet Request Response — all updated for the Renters' Rights Act 2025.

Find out more about Landlord Pro — £2.99/month

General information only — not legal advice. Always consult a qualified solicitor for advice specific to your circumstances.