Plain-English guides to staying compliant as a UK landlord.
With Section 21 abolished, landlords dealing with antisocial behaviour must use Ground 14 (discretionary, immediate proceedings) or Ground 7A (mandatory, serious criminal convictions). Both require solid evidence — here is what you need.
Since April 2020, individual landlords cannot deduct mortgage interest from rental income. Instead they get a 20% basic-rate tax credit — worth far less to higher-rate taxpayers. Here is how the restriction works and what you can do about it.
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 introduced two mandatory written obligations for landlords: the Information Sheet (deadline 31 May 2026) and the Written Statement for new tenancies. Both carry fines up to £7,000 per tenant.
With Section 21 abolished from 1 May 2026, evicting a tenant for rent arrears means using Grounds 8, 10 and 11 under Section 8 of the Housing Act 1988. Here is what each ground requires and how the process unfolds.
Awaab's Law applies to social landlords now. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 will extend it to the private rented sector, but PRS timescales are still under consultation. What already binds you, and how to get ahead.
Fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies no longer exist in England. From 1 May 2026, every new private tenancy is an assured periodic tenancy — and every existing AST converted automatically. Here is what that means in practice.
Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, deposit protection is no longer just a financial penalty risk. Failure to comply now blocks possession on most Section 8 grounds — making the 30-day deadline more critical than ever.
The 2022 amendment to the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations extended CO alarms to all rooms with fixed combustion appliances — including gas boilers. The Legionella obligation under HSWA 1974 is a risk assessment, not a certificate, and most landlords either ignore it or over-spend on it unnecessarily.
From 1 May 2026, Section 8 is the only route to possession in the private rented sector. This guide walks through Form 3A — the prescribed form, valid service methods, the deposit precondition, notice periods by ground, and the errors that most often invalidate notices.
Right to Rent checks are mandatory before any private residential tenancy starts in England. Updated guidance from 26 June 2025 covers three check routes: manual documents, online share codes, and Digital Verification Services. The civil penalty is up to £20,000 per tenant.
From 1 May 2026, the Renters' Rights Act bans rental bidding. Every written advertisement must state a specific rent. Landlords and agents cannot invite, encourage, or accept offers above it — including unsolicited ones. The penalty is up to £7,000 per breach.
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 gives every assured periodic tenant in England the right to request permission to keep a pet. Landlords must respond in writing within 28 days and can only refuse on reasonable grounds — blanket bans are no longer valid.
From 6 April 2026, landlords earning over £50,000 in gross rents must file quarterly digital updates under Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. This guide explains who is in scope, what the deadlines are, and how to comply.
Mandatory HMO licensing applies to properties with 5 or more occupants from 2 or more households. From 1 May 2026, the civil penalty for operating without a licence rose to £40,000. Additional and selective licensing schemes add further obligations that vary by council.
Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, both Ground 1 (moving in) and Ground 1A (selling) require the tenancy to have run for 12 months before use, and impose a further 12-month no-relet ban after possession. Most landlords know the first rule. Few know the second.
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 require an annual check by a Gas Safe registered engineer and a copy of the resulting CP12 to every tenant. Non-compliance is a criminal offence under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Since 1 May 2026, Section 13 (Form 4A) is the only valid route to a rent increase. Rent review clauses no longer work. Here's what the new process requires, and what happens when landlords get it wrong.
Late 2026 sees the launch of the mandatory Private Rented Sector Database. Landlords who miss registration face a £7,000 penalty and may find their possession notices invalid. Here's what to prepare.
On 23 June 2026, the Housing Health and Safety Rating System was significantly reformed — hazards reduced from 29 to 21, scoring bands simplified from ten to three, harm classes relabelled. Most landlords have not heard about it.
Band C by 1 October 2030 is confirmed government policy. The 2028 interim date for new tenancies was dropped in January 2026. Many sources still quote 2028. Here's what's accurate and what to do.
Thousands of EICRs obtained during the 2021 compliance push are expiring right now. The civil penalty stands at £40,000 — raised from £30,000 in November 2025. Here's the renewal trap and how to avoid it.
The Information Sheet's 31 May deadline has passed and How to Rent is gone. Here's the document landlords must still serve every new tenant — and exactly when.
Can a tenant take a tenancy and leave immediately? Almost — there's no minimum term, but a two-month notice floor. What the law really says, and your void risk.
Full management means handing over the work — but not the legal liability, and the oversight tends to vanish. Here's the blind spot in agent-managed lettings, for both sides.
Section 21 is gone. Here are the Section 8 grounds for possession landlords can use now, the notice period for each, and the rules that catch people out.