Guides
Landlord guides
Plain-English explainers for the regulations that matter. Written by the same people who draft our templates — so if a guide recommends a document, we sell one that does exactly what the guide describes.
What changes on 1 May 2026: the Renters' Rights Act Phase 1 commencement
The single biggest shake-up of English private renting in 40 years. Here is what commences on 1 May 2026, what it means for your tenancy, and the paperwork you need ready.
AST to APT: how your tenancy converts on 1 May 2026
If you have an Assured Shorthold Tenancy in force on 1 May 2026 it automatically becomes an Assured Periodic Tenancy on that date. Here's what to tell your tenant and what to change.
The new Section 8 grounds at a glance
Every mandatory and discretionary ground on the post-2026 Section 8 list, with notice periods, arrears thresholds and the evidence you'll need.
Section 13 rent increases — what's changed
From 1 May 2026, Section 13 is the only way to raise rent on an assured periodic tenancy. Here's how to get the timing, the comparables and the tribunal path right.
Welsh occupation contracts vs English tenancies: which rules apply
Letting on the Welsh side of the border plays by different rules — different statute, different terminology, different notice periods. Here's the landlord-friendly comparison.
HMO licensing in England: mandatory, additional, selective
Mandatory HMO licensing hasn't changed under the Renters' Rights Act, but enforcement has tightened. Here's the decision tree and the pitfall that catches most landlords.
How to evict a tenant in the UK: the 2026 landlord guide
A step-by-step guide to lawful possession in England after the Renters' Rights Act 2025 — from the decision to evict, to notice, to accelerated or standard possession at the county court.
Deposit protection rules for UK landlords (2026)
When to protect, how to protect, what 'prescribed information' you must serve, and the penalties for getting it wrong — including the deposit-protection tripwires that block Section 8 possession.
Landlord gas safety certificates (CP12): what, when, how
Annual Landlord Gas Safety Record (CP12) requirements, who can issue one, what happens if you miss the deadline, and how to prove compliance to a tenant or court.
EICR rules for landlords: the 5-yearly electrical check
Every 5 years — or sooner if the report says. What an EICR actually tests, what C1/C2/C3 mean, and how to respond to a 'Further Investigation Required' result.
How to write a compliant UK tenancy agreement (2026)
What goes into a modern tenancy agreement across the four UK nations, which clauses are unenforceable, and why the Renters' Rights Act 2025 changes what you can and cannot say.
Pets in rented property after the Renters' Rights Act 2025
From 1 May 2026, English tenants can request a pet and you must respond in writing within 42 days. What counts as 'reasonable' grounds to refuse, and how to structure a pet clause that actually works.
Selling a tenanted property: Ground 1A and the sale process
How to sell a rental property in England after Section 21's abolition. Ground 1A, timing, what the buyer's solicitor will want to see, and when 'with tenants in situ' is actually the better route.
Rent arrears: what to do in the first 60 days
A practical timeline for the first eight weeks of a rent-arrears situation — from the first missed payment through pre-action correspondence to Ground 8 service, and when mediation is the better route.
Awaab's Law: what private landlords must do about damp and mould
Awaab's Law extends to the PRS in 2026. What the fixed repair timescales are, what counts as a 'prescribed hazard', and how to evidence timely response — including the day-one, 14-day and 'as soon as reasonably practicable' windows.
Right to Rent checks for UK landlords: 2026 process
The Right to Rent regime, what documents to accept, how to do a compliant online or in-person check, follow-up check dates, and the £3,000 penalty for getting it wrong.
Landlord compliance checklist 2026: the complete annual walkthrough
The definitive annual compliance checklist for English private landlords after the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Gas safety, EICR, EPC, deposit protection, Right to Rent, HMO licensing, Private Landlord Database — every obligation in one list.
Section 8 notice guide: how to draft, serve and enforce (2026)
A step-by-step guide to the Section 8 possession notice under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 — choosing the right ground, drafting the notice, serving correctly, and what happens if the tenant does not leave.
Renters' Rights Act 2025: the plain-English landlord guide
Everything an English private landlord needs to know about the Renters' Rights Act 2025 — what changes, when it commences, what you must do before 1 May 2026, and which paperwork needs replacing.
Looking for regulations, not guides?
Our regulation library lists every statute we draft against, with review dates. For interactive decisions, try the Section 8 Ground Picker or the AST → APT wizard.