Renters' Rights Act Compliance Checklist for Landlords

The Renters' Rights Act came into force on 1st May 2026, introducing the most significant overhaul of the private rented sector in a generation. For residential landlords in England, compliance is no longer optional — it is a legal requirement backed by enhanced enforcement powers. This checklist breaks down what you need to do across three phases of every tenancy.

• Register on the new centrally managed Property Portal — you cannot legally market a property or serve possession notices without a valid registration number.
• Join the mandatory Private Rented Sector (PRS) Ombudsman — membership is compulsory for all private landlords in England.
• Remove all blanket bans from your advertising — bans on DSS claimants, benefit recipients, or families with children are now illegal.
• Set a fixed advertised rent — rent bidding is prohibited. You cannot accept offers above your advertised price.
• Prepare a periodic tenancy agreement — fixed-term ASTs are abolished. All new tenancies are periodic (rolling) from day one.
• Audit the property against the Decent Homes Standard — the property must be free from Category 1 hazards, in good repair, and provide adequate thermal comfort.
• Provide all prescribed information before move-in: valid Gas Safety Certificate, Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), current How to Rent guide, and deposit protection details within 30 days.

• Respond to damp and mould reports within 14 days (Awaab's Law) — begin repairs within 7 days of assessment and complete within a reasonable timeframe.
• Handle pet requests in writing within 28 days — you cannot impose a blanket no-pets policy. Reasonable refusals include lease restrictions, property size, or shared occupant allergies. You may require pet damage insurance.
• Manage rent increases via a formal Section 13 notice — increases are limited to once per year with at least two months' written notice. Tenants can challenge the increase at the First-tier Tribunal.
• Maintain a compliance calendar — track Gas Safety Certificate renewals (annual), EICR renewals (every 5 years), and EPC renewals (every 10 years).
• Keep detailed records of all maintenance requests, inspections, communications, and repairs. These records are essential if you later need to seek possession.
• Ensure deposit protection remains active in a government-backed scheme (TDS, DPS, or mydeposits) throughout the tenancy.

• Ground 1A (selling the property) — 2 months' notice required; you must have owned the property for at least 12 months.
• Ground 1 (landlord or close family member moving in) — 2 months' notice; written declaration required.
• Ground 8 (mandatory rent arrears) — tenant owes at least 3 months' rent at both the date of notice and the court hearing; 4 weeks' notice.
• Ground 14 (anti-social behaviour) — notice can be served immediately; evidence of the behaviour is essential.
• Serve the Section 8 notice correctly — use the prescribed form, state the correct grounds, and serve by a method permitted in the tenancy agreement.
• Prepare for court — gather all evidence in advance: rent account statements, inspection reports, correspondence, and any relevant photographs.