Renters' Rights Act: The rules that landlords must follow by the end of May to avoid a £7,000 fine
New rights for renters took effect from 1 May and landlords need to act fast to avoid a fine for not keeping tenants informed.
Landlords have until 31 May to hand over a crucial document to tenants or risk a £7,000 fine.
Large parts of the government’s Renters’ Rights Act have now come into force, including a ban on so-called “no-fault” evictions and an automatic switch to rolling contracts.
Landlords can now only raise rent once per year, and it must be in line with market rates.
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The landmark reforms have raised fears already squeezed landlords, particularly those on a small-scale, have been given more reason to abandon the market and sell up.
Landlords need to ensure they are aware of the changes that have already taken effect, and those due in the future.
This includes providing tenants with the government’s Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026, which outlines the changes in the reforms. Landlords must have done this by 31 May.
It needs to be provided as either a physical hard copy or as a PDF attachment via email or text.
Landlords can be fined up to £7,000 for failure to comply.
But that isn’t the only compliance failure that could result in a fine.
Natasha Kendle, head of property management, lettings compliance and customer relations at Beresfords Property Group, said: “With local authorities gaining stronger powers since the end of last year, the ability to investigate compliance and issue fines of up to £7,000 for breaches, relying on outdated agreements or informal advice could leave landlords significantly exposed.”
What other rules will landlords need to follow?
Beyond providing the tenancy information sheet, there are other rules that landlords have to follow or face a fine for breaching.
Landlords can’t ask for or accept rent from a tenant before a tenancy agreement has been signed between both parties.
Landlords also cannot stop someone from viewing or renting a property just because they are on benefits or have children.
Rental properties also have to be advertised with asking prices, while landlords are banned from encouraging people to bid higher than this advertised price.
There will also eventually be a register that landlords need to sign up to or they will face a fine. A date for this hasn’t been set yet.
Councils will be responsible for issuing fines and there could be higher charges for repeated failures and landlords could even be banned for serious breaches.
Landlords ignoring the rules can be reported by their tenants or found through council inspections.
If you are renting your property through a lettings agent, it is worth checking with them if you are compliant.
Lettings agency Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward suggests keeping clear records of agreements, inspections and communications, adding: “A well-organised system can make compliance easier and support positive tenant interactions, including maintenance requests. Landlords may find it beneficial to work with partner agents who offer online software to help with record keeping and to manage the additional requirements.”
Rob Norton, UK director at property software brand PlanRadar, said: “As the new rules come into force, landlords and property managers will face significantly greater pressure to evidence activity across their portfolios in real time. Every inspection, repair and tenant interaction will need to be accurately recorded and easily accessible.
“However, many are still relying on disconnected systems to manage these processes, creating gaps in visibility and increasing the risk of disputes or delays.
“As a result, we’re likely to see an acceleration in the shift towards digital tools that provide a clear audit trail and a single source of truth across assets. In an increasingly regulated environment, that level of oversight is becoming essential.”
