This checklist is provided as general guidance for UK landlords and is not legal advice. The Renters' Rights Act is being implemented in phases — some provisions may not yet be in force. Always verify current requirements and seek professional legal advice for your specific circumstances.
Contents
1. Tenancy Agreements
Fixed-term tenancies are gone. All new and existing tenancies are now periodic (rolling) from the date the Act comes into force.
- Remove fixed-term clauses from your standard tenancy template — all tenancies are now periodic by defaultNew law
- Update existing tenancy agreements to reflect periodic status — you do not need to re-sign with tenants, the change is automaticNew law
- Ensure your agreement includes the mandatory landlord name, address, and contact detailsAlways required
- Provide tenants with the prescribed "How to Rent" guide at the start of every tenancy (updated version)Always required
- Remove any clauses that prevent tenants from ending their tenancy — tenants can now give 2 months' notice at any timeNew law
Key change: Tenants can now leave with 2 months' notice from any point in the tenancy. There is no minimum fixed period before they can leave.
2. Section 21 is Gone — Know Your Possession Rights
No-fault evictions are abolished. You can only regain possession using specific Section 8 grounds.
- Stop using Section 21 notices — they are no longer valid once the Act comes into forceUrgent
- Familiarise yourself with the updated Section 8 grounds for possession (Schedule 1 of the Act)New law
- Understand Ground 1 (occupation by landlord or family) — requires at least 4 months' notice and cannot be used in the first 12 months of a tenancyNew law
- Understand Ground 1A (sale of property) — requires 4 months' notice, property must be genuinely marketed for sale within 3 monthsNew law
- Note that most Section 8 grounds now require at least 4 weeks' notice minimum (some require more)New law
- Be aware that courts will scrutinise retaliatory evictions — do not serve possession notices in response to legitimate tenant complaintsUrgent
Practical tip: If you need to sell your property or move back in, document your intentions clearly and keep all communications with the tenant in writing from the outset.
3. Rent Increases
Rent can only be increased once per year and must follow a formal process. Tenant protections are significantly stronger.
- Limit rent increases to a maximum of once every 12 months per tenancyNew law
- Always use the prescribed Section 13 notice form to propose a rent increase — verbal or email-only increases are not validNew law
- Give at least 2 months' written notice of any rent increase using the Section 13 formNew law
- Only increase rent to the market rate — you cannot charge above what you could achieve for a new letNew law
- Inform tenants of their right to challenge rent increases at the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)New law
- Remove any rent review clauses from tenancy agreements — they are replaced by the Section 13 processNew law
4. Repairs & Hazards (Awaab's Law)
Awaab's Law — originally applying to social housing — is now extended to the private rented sector with strict response timeframes.
- Respond to emergency repair reports (e.g. no heating in winter, gas leaks, flooding) within 24 hoursUrgent
- Investigate reports of damp and mould within 14 days; begin fixing within a further 7 daysUrgent
- Investigate and fix all other Category 1 hazards (serious health and safety risks) within 14 days of a reportNew law
- Keep written records of every repair report received, your response, and when work was completedUrgent
- Ensure your property meets the Decent Homes Standard — now extended to the private rented sectorNew law
- Set up a reliable system for tenants to report repairs (email, app, or written record) — verbal-only reports are harder to trackBest practice
Important: Failure to meet Awaab's Law timeframes can result in Rent Repayment Orders, civil penalties, and in serious cases, a Banning Order.
5. Landlord Registration & Ombudsman
Two new mandatory requirements: register on the national PRS Database and join an approved redress scheme.
- Register on the new Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database — this is mandatory for all landlords letting in EnglandNew law
- Keep your PRS Database registration up to date (property details, your contact information, letting agent details if applicable)New law
- Join a government-approved landlord redress scheme (ombudsman) — this applies to all private landlords, not just agentsNew law
- Display your ombudsman membership information to tenants at the start of each tenancyNew law
- Understand the complaints process under your redress scheme — tenants can refer unresolved disputes to the ombudsmanNew law
6. Pets
Landlords can no longer have a blanket "no pets" policy. Requests must be considered and refused only with good reason.
- Remove any blanket "no pets" clauses from your tenancy agreement — they are no longer enforceableNew law
- Respond to written pet requests within 28 days — failure to respond is deemed consentUrgent
- Only refuse a pet request in writing, with clear reasons — refusals must be objectively reasonableNew law
- If you grant a pet request, you may require the tenant to take out pet damage insurance as a conditionNew law
- Keep all pet request correspondence in writing and on fileBest practice
7. Advertising & Tenant Selection
Several advertising and tenant selection practices are now illegal.
- Remove any "No DSS", "No benefits" or "Working professionals only" wording from all advertsUrgent
- Remove any "No children" or family restrictions from all advertsUrgent
- Advertise your property at a fixed asking rent — inviting or accepting offers above the advertised price (rental bidding) is bannedNew law
- Ensure your letting agent (if applicable) is aware of and complying with all advertising restrictionsNew law
8. Essential Compliance Certificates
These requirements predate the Renters' Rights Act but are the foundation of compliance — and must be in place before any new let.
- Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) — renewed every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineerAnnual
- Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — valid for up to 5 years, required for all private rented properties5-yearly
- Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) — minimum E rating currently required; government plans to raise this to C by 203010-yearly
- Smoke alarms — at least one on every storey used as living accommodation; test at the start of every tenancyAlways required
- Carbon monoxide alarm — in every room with a fixed combustion appliance (gas boiler, open fire, log burner etc.)Always required
- Legionella risk assessment — carried out and documented (typically every 2 years or after any significant change)Periodic
- Provide copies of all certificates to tenants at the start of the tenancy and within 28 days of renewalAlways required
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