Guides for landlords
Renters' Rights Act Guides
In-depth, practical guides for private landlords in England on the Renters' Rights Act 2025 — what changed on 1 May 2026, what to do now, and what's still coming. Written October 2026.
Renters' Rights Act Landlord Checklist: The 2026/27 Compliance Audit
The full post-1 May 2026 audit: tenancy structure, documents served, certificates, advertising rules, rent increases, pets, records — plus the deadlines still to come.
Tenant Pet Requests: The 28-Day Rule Every Landlord Must Follow
Respond in writing within 28 days or the request is granted by default. What counts as a valid refusal, the 7-day extension, and why you can't demand a pet deposit or mandatory insurance.
Form 4A Rent Increases: 5 Mistakes That Void Your Section 13 Notice
Section 13 on Form 4A is the only lawful route. The timing traps that kill notices — the 52-week rule, rent-period start dates, two-month notice arithmetic — and the market-rent evidence you'll need.
Missed the Information Sheet Deadline? What Landlords Should Do Now
The 31 May 2026 deadline has passed, but late service beats no service. How to serve the sheet properly now, prove it, and limit your £7,000-per-tenancy exposure.
Renters' Rights Act Fines: 6 £7,000 Scenarios (and How £40,000 Happens)
Worked examples of how ordinary landlords trigger civil penalties — the £50 bidding war, the half-served information sheet, the re-let after Ground 1A — and what keeps penalties down.
Register Your Rental Property: The PRS Database Landlord Guide
The database opens 15 December 2026. Regional deadlines through 14 November 2027, £65 per property per year, the documents to gather now, and the £7,000 penalty for missing it.
Your AST Is Gone: What the Automatic Conversion to Periodic Tenancy Means
Every assured shorthold tenancy became an assured periodic tenancy on 1 May 2026 — automatically. What converted, what died with the AST, and what landlords still need to fix.
Section 8 Ground 8: Serious Rent Arrears After the Renters' Rights Act
Ground 8 now needs 3 months' arrears at notice and hearing, with 4 weeks' notice. The trap that kills claims, the Ground 10/11 backup strategy, and the evidence that wins.
Put every guide into practice
The Landlord Compliance Pack (£12.99) turns these guides into a working system: 50-point checklist, deadline tracker, pet-request workflow, Form 4A preparation, Section 8 ground-picker and proof-of-service records. Researched to 5 October 2026, with free lifetime updates.
See the pack — £12.99Not legal advice. These guides are general information for private landlords in England, written in October 2026. They are not legal advice. Housing law changes — check GOV.UK and your local council before acting, and take professional advice on your own circumstances.