The Renters' Rights Act 2025 Phase 1 commences on 1 May 2026. Every private landlord in England needs to act before that date. This guide gives you a clear, ordered checklist, from reviewing your existing tenancies to serving the mandatory Information Sheet. Miss the deadline and you lose rights; get it right and you are protected.
On 1 May 2026, Section 21 is abolished, every AST converts to an Assured Periodic Tenancy, and new rules apply to rent increases, pet requests and possession. Most of these actions apply to your existing tenancies, not just new ones. Act now.
1. List every tenancy you are a party to
Start with a complete inventory. Every property you let in England under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy is within scope. Note the property address, the tenant names, the tenancy start date, and whether you have a fixed-term or periodic AST. This list is the foundation for everything else.
2. Destroy or archive any unused Section 21 forms
Section 21 notices are permanently abolished on 1 May 2026. Any template you have, whether a solicitor's form, an agent's form, or a downloaded template, is legally dead from that date. Archive them with a clear label ('pre-commencement only') or delete them to avoid accidentally using one.
3. Download the updated Section 8 pack
The Section 8 notice form has been revised under the Renters' Rights Act. Using an old Form 3 after 1 May 2026 is a procedural defect that can invalidate your possession claim. LetSafe UK's Section 8 Notice Pack (LS-E-010, £19) includes the revised form, a ground-selection matrix, and a notice period table for each ground.
4. Get your new tenancy agreement ready
From 1 May 2026, you cannot grant a new fixed-term AST. All new private tenancies in England must be Assured Periodic Tenancies (APTs). LetSafe UK's Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreement (LS-E-001, £29) is drafted for the post-commencement regime and includes the new pet-request clause, the bidding-ban acknowledgement, and the revised grounds schedule.
5. Serve the mandatory Information Sheet (by 31 May 2026)
All landlords must serve a government-prescribed Information Sheet on every existing tenant by 31 May 2026. Failure to serve it is a civil offence with a penalty of up to £7,000. The Information Sheet must be served to each named tenant individually, not just one copy per household.
- Download the official PDF from GOV.UK
- Email a copy as an attachment to each named tenant (a link is not sufficient)
- Or print and post/deliver a copy to each named tenant
- Keep proof of service for each tenant
6. Review your rent-increase process
From 1 May 2026, rent can only be increased using Section 13. Any contractual rent-review clause in your existing tenancy is overridden. You must serve a prescribed Section 13 notice, wait the notice period, and the tenant can refer the new rent to the First-tier Tribunal if they dispute it. You can only increase rent once every 12 months.
7. Update your pet-request process
From 1 May 2026, a tenant has a statutory right to make a written pet request. You must respond in writing within 42 days. You can only refuse on reasonable grounds. Silence or a blanket refusal without reasons is a civil offence.
8. Audit your deposit protection
Every deposit must be protected in an approved scheme within 30 days of receipt, and Prescribed Information must be served within the same 30-day window. A non-compliant deposit regime can bar you from relying on certain Section 8 grounds.
9. Confirm your compliance certificates are current
- Gas Safety Certificate, renewed annually; every tenant receives a copy within 28 days of the annual check
- EICR, renewed every five years; served before move-in
- EPC, must be valid and minimum E rating for new lets
- Smoke and CO alarms, working smoke alarm on every floor, CO alarm in every room with a solid fuel appliance
- How to Rent guide (2026 edition), must be served to all new tenants from 1 May 2026
10. Get the Transition Pack
LetSafe UK's Renters' Rights Act Transition Pack (LS-E-130, £39) bundles the key documents for existing landlords: the revised Section 8 form, the Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreement, the Section 13 Rent Increase Pack, and a covering letter to accompany the Information Sheet.
List tenancies → destroy old S21 forms → get updated S8 pack → get PAT agreement → serve Information Sheet by 31 May → update rent-review process → set up pet-request process → audit deposits → check compliance certs → get the Transition Pack.