The Government has produced further guidance for private landlords on the Renters Rights Act in readiness for the changes that come into force on 1 May 2026.

On 13 November, they issued guidance for landlords and letting agents on renting out properties. This spells out the main changes ahead and what action needs to be taken. See Renting out your property: guidance for landlords and letting agents - Guidance - GOV.UK. This was updated on 21 November 2025. 

A useful MHCLG two-page checklist has also been published. This sets out in stages the things private landlords need to prepare for, which include: 

• The need to give the official government information sheet (due to be published in March 2026) to tenants with existing written tenancy agreements. (Failure to do so carries a suggested penalty of £4000).
• For new tenancies created on or after the 1st of May 2026, landlords need to provide tenants with certain information about the tenancy in writing.  The Government will publish further guidance in January 2026 to give time to update tenancy agreement templates. (If Tenancy agreements are not changed, then failure to issue a written statement of terms within 28 days of the assured tenancy coming into existence carries a suggested fine of £4000).
• Updating rent increase processes.
• Updating websites and any internal documents.
• Reviewing mortgage insurance and tenancy agreement documents for clauses that restrict tenants with children or those receiving benefits, as these provisions are nullified as part of measures to prevent rental discrimination.  (Note that discrimination against those on benefits or with children in the lettings process carries a proposed fine of £6000).
• Ensure that any property lettings adverts to be published after 1 May 2026 include the asking rental price. (Note that failure to specify the proposed rent within a written advert or offer carries a proposed fine of £3000. Inviting, encouraging or accepting any offer of rent greater than the advertised rent carries a proposed fine of £4000).

To help keep abreast of changes landlords are encouraged to sign up to government e-mail alerts via gov.uk/rentingischanging.

Fines

Landlords are reminded that failure to comply on and after the 1st of May 2026 can lead to fines of up to £7000  for minor non-compliance or up to £40,000 for serious repeat non-compliance.  These fines are imposed by local authorities 

Detailed statutory guidance about penalties was published on 13 November and is at Civil penalties under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and other housing legislation - GOV.UK. This is intended to introduce some consistency between local authorities and contains a sobering table of the suggested starting point for fines.   

Landlords need to be very careful not to mistakenly serve old-style s21 notices or old version fixed term tenancies after 1 May 2026, as they could be fined by the local authority for doing so. 

Some of the proposed fines include:

• Attempting to let a property for a fixed term - £4000
• Serving a section 21 notice after the 1st of May 2026 - £6000
• Relying on a ground for possession where the landlord does not reasonably believe that they will be able to obtain possession - £6000
• Re-letting or re-marketing a property within the 12-month no let period after using the moving or selling grounds - £25,000

Landlords also risk prosecution by the local authority in the magistrates’ courts (unlimited fines for serious and repeated non-compliance).  

Rent repayment orders could also be made against landlords if certain offences are committed, requiring a landlord to pay up to two years' rent to their tenant or the local council.

For help, training and advice with preparations for the Renters Rights Act, contact me and/or Emma Hardman.