Bradford Landlord Compliance 2026 — Renters' Rights Act, Selective Licensing and Key Obligations

Renters' Rights Act 2025 — England-wide obligations from 1 May 2026

The following apply to all private landlords in England, including Bradford, from 1 May 2026:

• Section 21 abolished: No-fault eviction notices are unlawful for any tenancy from 1 May 2026. Possession requires a Section 8 notice citing a statutory ground under the revised Housing Act 1988 Schedule 2
• Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreement required: All new tenancies from 1 May 2026 must use a Periodic Assured Tenancy (PAT) Agreement. The fixed-term AST model is no longer available for new grants
• Awaab's Law in force: Mandatory statutory timeframes apply for responding to, investigating, and repairing damp, mould, and HHSRS hazards in the private rented sector. Bradford's large stock of Victorian terrace housing makes compliance particularly important
• Information Sheet obligation: All landlords with existing tenancies as at 1 May 2026 must serve the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet on every named tenant by 31 May 2026. Penalty: up to £7,000 per tenancy. Failure to serve prevents reliance on Grounds 1 and 1A
• Pet request right: Tenants on PATs have the right to request a pet. Landlords must respond in writing within 42 days; no response is deemed consent
• Civil penalties up to £40,000: The RRA 2025 increased the maximum civil penalty for PRS non-compliance from £30,000 to £40,000 per offence
• Rent increase via Section 13 only: Rent on a PAT can only be increased via the Section 13 notice procedure using Form 4A. Contractual rent-review clauses in PAT agreements are unenforceable

Bradford Metropolitan District Council licensing schemes

BMDC operates licensing schemes affecting a wide range of private rented properties across the district. Always use the council's postcode tool to confirm current scheme coverage:

• Selective licensing: BMDC operates selective licensing across designated wards. In designated areas, landlords must hold a selective licence before letting any standard privately rented property. Check the Bradford Council licensing portal with your specific postcode — designations are reviewed and updated following statutory consultation
• Additional HMO licensing: BMDC operates additional HMO licensing for smaller shared properties (3–4 occupants from 2 or more separate households) in designated areas. Many properties near the University of Bradford and Bradford College require an additional licence
• Mandatory HMO licensing: Any property with 5 or more occupants from 2 or more separate households requires a mandatory HMO licence under the Housing Act 2004, regardless of selective licensing status
• HMO licence conditions: Bradford HMO licences impose conditions on maximum occupancy, room sizes, fire safety equipment, annual gas safety certificate (CP12), and 5-yearly electrical installation condition report (EICR)
• Operating without a required licence is a criminal offence. Civil penalties up to £30,000 (or up to £40,000 under the RRA 2025 for PRS offences). Tenants can apply for a Rent Repayment Order covering up to 12 months' rent

Awaab's Law — Bradford's older housing stock and compliance risk

The Awaab's Law provisions in the Renters' Rights Act 2025 were named after Awaab Ishak, who died in Rochdale — directly neighbouring the Bradford district — following prolonged exposure to toxic mould in a social rented property. Awaab's Law now applies to the private rented sector from 1 May 2026. Bradford landlords face heightened enforcement risk given the age of the district's housing stock:

• Emergency hazards: Landlords must begin investigating and start emergency repairs within 24 hours of a tenant report
• Urgent hazards (damp, mould, cold): Investigation completed and repair plan issued within a statutory period; full remediation within a second statutory period
• Non-emergency hazards: Respond to a written complaint within 14 days with a written record of the proposed remedy
• Bradford's inner-city wards (BD1–BD8) contain extensive pre-1914 back-to-back and terraced housing with known cold bridge, damp penetration, and condensation risks. Pre-let surveys on older stock are strongly recommended
• Bradford Metropolitan District Council's housing enforcement team can issue improvement notices and civil penalties under HHSRS powers without court proceedings. Keep written records of all tenant reports, inspections, and repair actions
• BMDC has been active in joint enforcement operations with West Yorkshire Police on disrepair and HMO offences — the enforcement environment is more active than in smaller authorities

Bradford landlord compliance checklist 2026

Key compliance requirements for landlords operating in the Bradford Metropolitan District:

• Check whether your property is in a selective or additional HMO licensing area — use the Bradford Council postcode licensing tool
• Apply for or renew any required licence before it expires — apply in advance to avoid unlicensed letting
• Use a Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreement for all new tenancies from 1 May 2026
• Serve the RRA 2025 Information Sheet on all existing tenants by 31 May 2026
• Ensure a valid EPC (minimum E rating) is in place for every let property
• Hold a current Gas Safety Record (CP12, annual) and EICR (5-yearly) on file
• Respond to any damp, mould, or repair reports within Awaab's Law timeframes — keep written records
• Use Section 13 Form 4A for any rent increase — contractual review clauses are unenforceable on a PAT
• Use Section 8 with the correct ground for any possession action — Section 21 is abolished

Frequently asked questions