With just a month left until the first phase of the Tenants Rights Act comes into force, Propertymark is asking agents and landlords to ensure they are fully prepared and compliant with the new legal requirements.
The legislation is one of the most significant changes to England’s private rental sector in a generation and will be implemented in three phases starting from 1 May 2026.
The first phase will see Section 21 eviction abolished, preventing landlords from evicting tenants without a valid legal reason. Notices served before May 1, 2026 will still be valid, but any court proceedings must be started by July 31, 2026.
Additionally, all tenancies will move to a new assured periodic system, eliminating fixed term assured shorthold tenancies from 1 May 2026. This change will provide greater protections for tenants, allowing them to remain in the property indefinitely as long as they meet the terms of their agreement. Tenants will still be able to leave by giving two months’ notice.
The reforms would also introduce clearer, more strongly defined grounds for capture. Landlords will only be able to repossess the property in specific circumstances, such as serious rent arrears, plans to sell, or where they or a family member intend to live.
Between May 1 and July 30, 2026, student landlords will be able to use Ground 4A to give two months’ notice to regain possession. This transitional measure aims to support the student rental cycle ahead of the 2026/27 academic year.
Other key elements of the law include limiting rent increases to once per year, restrictions on rental bidding, and strengthening protections against discrimination.
Local authorities will also have increased powers to investigate and enforce compliance, including the ability to issue financial penalties if landlords or agents fail to meet their obligations.
Preparation is important. Strong record-keeping, clear communication and prompt action will be essential during the transition. The UK Government has published a ‘Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026′, which must be provided to all named tenants by 31 May 2026. It must be distributed either as a physical copy or electronically (for example, via email); Simply sharing the web link will not satisfy the legal requirement.
Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, commented: “The first phase of the Tenants’ Rights Act is fast approaching, and any failure by agents or landlords to comply with the new requirements could result in significant financial penalties.
“PropertyMark continues to support its members through online resources, guidance documents, webinars and ongoing engagement with the UK Government to ensure the sector is well prepared as implementation progresses.”
Propertymark, which will host a webinar on the Tenants’ Rights Act on Monday, April 13, will cover the latest updates ahead of implementation, advise agents to review their tenancy portfolios to identify affected agreements, ensure processes are in place to issue information letters accurately and timely, train staff on compliance delivery, and prepare for widespread documentation changes before May 2026.
Propertymark, which is hosting a Renters’ Rights Act webinar on Monday, April 13 to cover the latest updates ahead of implementation, advises agents to review their tenancy portfolios to identify affected agreements, ensure processes are in place to issue information letters correctly and on time, train staff on compliance delivery and prepare for wider documentation changes before May 2026.
