The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 comes into force in England on 1 May, and for many landlords, it’s arrived quickly.
If you feel like you’re slightly behind, don’t panic.
What matters now is taking clear, practical steps to get everything in order before the changes take effect.
Here’s a straightforward five-point plan to help you get there.
1. Do you still need to use Section 21?
If you were considering using a Section 21 notice, the window is closing.
From May, so-called ‘no fault’ evictions will no longer be available. Instead, you’ll need to rely on Section 8 and specific legal grounds to regain possession.
If this is something you’ve been delaying, it’s worth taking advice immediately and acting quickly if appropriate.
2. Is your rent set at the right level?
Now is the time to review your rent.
Under the new rules, rent increases will be limited to once per year and must reflect current market levels. You’ll also need to follow the formal Section 13 process and give two months’ notice.
Getting this right before the deadline avoids complications later.
3. Issue the official information to tenants
The Government has released an official Renters’ Rights Act information sheet explaining how the changes affect tenants.
This must be provided to all existing tenants before the end of April, including every named tenant on the agreement.
It can be emailed, posted or hand-delivered, but you should always keep a record of how and when it was issued.
It’s also worth noting that existing Assured Shorthold Tenancies will automatically convert to periodic tenancies from May, so there’s no need to reissue agreements unless one is missing.
4. Check your compliance documents
While not new requirements, this is a good moment to double-check everything is up to date.
Gas safety certificates
Electrical safety reports (EICRs)
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
Licensing where required
Deposit protection
Having these in place avoids unnecessary issues under the new system and gives you peace of mind moving forward.
5. Inspect your property properly
A thorough inspection now can save problems later.
Look for anything that needs attention, whether that’s maintenance, signs of damp, wear and tear, or safety concerns following the winter months.
Getting on top of these early helps set the tone for a smoother tenancy under the new rules.
What you don’t need to do (yet)
The new Private Rented Sector Database and Landlord Ombudsman are both part of the legislation.
However, they are not yet active, so there is nothing to action on these just yet.
A more structured way forward
There’s no doubt this is a significant shift for landlords.
But it doesn’t mean losing control of your property. It simply means operating with clearer processes, better structure, and more transparency.
That’s something we’ve always believed in.
As founding members of the Ethical Agent Network, and part of its advisory panel, we’ve long championed a more professional, fair and well-managed approach to lettings. In many ways, these changes are pushing the wider industry in that same direction.
If you’re unsure where you stand or want help getting everything aligned before 1 May, we’re always here for a straightforward, no-pressure conversation.
