The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 has changed how most private assured tenancies in England operate. Landlords should now review their tenancy templates, evidence of information supplied to tenants, rent increase procedures and possession paperwork. Existing safety, deposit and licensing duties also need continuing attention.
Nearly six months after the main tenancy reforms took effect on 1 May, this is a useful time to check whether everyday management has caught up with the legislation. A document saved in a folder provides little protection if the wrong version is being issued or nobody can demonstrate when it reached the tenant.
Do existing tenancy agreements need replacing?
For most existing assured shorthold tenancies, the move to an assured periodic tenancy happened automatically. Landlords were not generally required to replace an existing written agreement simply because the law changed.
However, an old agreement may contain provisions that no longer operate as written. A printed end date does not, by itself, bring an assured periodic tenancy to an end. Landlords should review their processes rather than assume an old fixed-term expiry date still controls what happens next.
New agreements should reflect the current system. Retire outdated templates and make sure agents and anyone administering the tenancy use the same approved version.
Can you show that tenants received the required information?
For existing tenancies with written terms, most landlords and agents should have supplied every named tenant with the official Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 by 31 May.
The government required the actual document to be supplied on paper or as an electronic attachment. Sending a website link alone was insufficient. Keep a copy of what was supplied and evidence of when and how it was delivered.
Some tenancies affected by valid possession notices served before 1 May have different transitional arrangements, including later information deadlines. Those cases need individual checking.
Where a required document was missed, act promptly and seek appropriate advice. Supplying it late does not erase an earlier breach.
What should change for new tenancies?
For new assured tenancies agreed on or after 1 May, landlords must provide the prescribed written information before signing or otherwise agreeing the tenancy. This can be included in the agreement or supplied separately. Existing wholly verbal tenancies had a separate requirement to receive written information by 31 May.
Review the complete application process, including advertisements, screening questions and payment instructions. Asking rents, rental bidding, discrimination and advance rent are all areas affected by reform.
A practical example is an agent using a current agreement but sending applicants an older email asking for rent before the tenancy is signed. Reviewing the agreement alone would miss that problem.
Are rent increase and possession procedures current?
For assured periodic tenancies in England, rent increases generally require the section 13 process, using Form 4A with at least two months’ notice. Increases are limited to once a year. Old contractual rent review wording should not be treated as a substitute for the current procedure.
Landlords should also remove section 21 from their standard process for serving new possession notices. Possession now requires an applicable legal ground, the correct notice and supporting evidence, with court proceedings where necessary.
Before serving a notice, check the tenancy’s history and any transitional rules. Notice periods and restrictions differ between grounds, so a generic reminder in a property-management system is not enough.
What should a practical review cover?
For each property, check that you can identify:
- The tenancy type, start date and people named on the agreement.
- The agreement version and required information supplied.
- Evidence of delivery to each relevant tenant.
- The current rent, payment record and previous increase notices.
- Deposit records, safety documents and applicable licences.
- Who is responsible for updating records and checking deadlines.
Where an agent manages the property, request confirmation of completed tasks and copies of the evidence. An instruction to “deal with compliance” leaves important questions unanswered.
How does the position differ elsewhere in the UK?
The English assured tenancy reforms should not be copied across a UK portfolio.
Scotland: Most new private lettings use the private residential tenancy framework. Check the written terms and accompanying explanatory information required under Scottish rules, using current Scottish materials.
Wales: Most private lettings use standard occupation contracts under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. New contract-holders generally need a written statement within 14 days of the occupation date. Review subsequent required updates, including the 2026 rental discrimination changes.
Northern Ireland: Landlords must provide a tenancy information notice within 28 days of granting a private tenancy and notify relevant variations within 28 days of the change. An English agreement does not replace those requirements.
Make the review part of ongoing property management
NetRent has supported landlords for more than 23 years. Keeping tenancy records organised can also help when reviewing insurance, approaching a mortgage provider or preparing a property for sale.
For information about NetRent’s landlord services, call 01352 721300 or email support@netrent.co.uk.
NetRent does not provide legal advice. This article represents our general understanding of the landlord rental market and is provided for information only.