Grantham Landlord Compliance 2026 — Renters' Rights Act, South Kesteven District Council HMO Licensing and Local Obligations

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

All Grantham private landlords must comply with these national changes from 1 May 2026:

• Section 21 abolished: No-fault eviction notices served on or after 1 May 2026 are unlawful throughout England. All possession in Grantham must proceed via Section 8 using a valid Schedule 2 ground
• Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreement required: All new tenancies from 1 May 2026 must use a Periodic Assured Tenancy (PAT) agreement. Fixed-term ASTs are no longer available for new private residential lets in England — including Grantham
• Awaab's Law (PRS extension — date to be confirmed): Mandatory statutory timeframes for responding to, investigating, and repairing damp, mould, and other HHSRS hazards will extend to private landlords in due course
• Information Sheet obligation: Landlords with an existing tenancy as at 1 May 2026 were required to deliver the RRA 2025 Information Sheet to every named tenant by 31 May 2026. For new tenancies granted after 1 May 2026, the Information Sheet must be provided at the outset of the tenancy
• Pet request right: Tenants on PATs may request to keep a pet. Landlords must respond in writing within 42 days. Unreasonable refusal is a civil penalty offence
• Civil penalties up to £40,000: The RRA 2025 raises the maximum civil penalty for PRS non-compliance to £40,000 per offence
• Rent increase via Section 13 only: Rent on a PAT can only be increased via formal Section 13 notice (Form 4A). Contractual rent-review clauses are unenforceable on periodic assured tenancies from 1 May 2026

HMO licensing in Grantham — South Kesteven District Council

Grantham does not have a selective or additional licensing scheme as of June 2026. Mandatory national HMO licensing applies to all qualifying properties:

• Mandatory HMO licensing: Any property in Grantham with 5 or more occupants forming 2 or more households requires a mandatory HMO licence under the Housing Act 2004
• South Kesteven District Council licence conditions: Conditions typically include annual gas safety records, valid EICR, interlinked smoke detection, carbon monoxide alarms in all relevant rooms, and minimum room sizes
• Minimum room sizes: Single adult sleeping room minimum 6.51 m²; for two adults sharing minimum 10.22 m²; no person under 10 may sleep in a room of less than 4.64 m²
• Unlicensed HMO penalties: Operating an unlicensed mandatory HMO is a criminal offence carrying an unlimited fine, a potential Rent Repayment Order for up to 12 months' rent, and addition to the rogue landlord database
• Smaller HMOs (3–4 persons): Monitor South Kesteven District Council communications for any additional or selective licensing consultation — schemes can be introduced with six weeks' consultation under the Housing Act 2004

Gas safety in Grantham — annual requirement

Every Grantham landlord with a gas appliance or gas supply must maintain a current Gas Safety Record:

• Annual Gas Safety Check by a Gas Safe registered engineer
• Gas Safety Record retained for at least two years
• Copy given to all existing tenants within 28 days of inspection; new tenants must receive a copy before or at move-in
• Failure to obtain a gas safety record is a criminal offence with no cap on the fine

Electrical safety — EICR in Grantham

Electrical Installation Condition Reports are mandatory for all private rented properties in England:

• EICR required every five years minimum for all private rented residential properties
• Must be carried out by a qualified electrician meeting the requirements of BS 7671
• Any C1 (danger present) or C2 (potentially dangerous) defects must be remedied within 28 days of the report date, or within the shorter period specified by the inspector
• New tenants must receive a copy of the EICR before move-in; existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection date
• Failure to comply with EICR requirements attracts a civil penalty of up to £30,000

EPC requirements for Grantham landlords

Energy Performance Certificates are mandatory for all privately rented properties in England:

• Current minimum: Band E. F and G rated properties in Grantham cannot be let without a valid registered exemption on the MEES Exemptions Register
• Proposed minimum: Band C by 2030. Many Victorian and inter-war terraced properties in Grantham town centre will require insulation, glazing, and heating system upgrades to reach Band C — landlords should budget for this now
• EPC is valid for 10 years from assessment
• Must be made available to prospective tenants at the earliest opportunity and included in any property listing
• Grantham's older housing stock means a significant proportion of PRS properties will need EPC improvements before 2030

Deposit protection in Grantham

All tenancy deposits must be protected within 30 days of receipt:

• Use one of the three government-approved schemes: Deposit Protection Service (DPS), MyDeposits, or Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS)
• Serve the Prescribed Information on all named tenants within 30 days of receiving the deposit
• Failure to protect a deposit bars Section 8 possession on Ground 8 (serious arrears) and exposes the landlord to a penalty of 1–3× the deposit amount at the First-tier Tribunal
• On a Periodic Assured Tenancy, confirm with your chosen scheme whether the deposit already protected under an AST transitions automatically or requires re-protection

Grantham rental market context 2026

Key factors for Grantham buy-to-let landlords in 2026:

• Grantham is on the East Midlands Main Line with fast services to Nottingham (approx. 35 mins), Peterborough, and London King's Cross (approx. 75 mins) — making it an attractive commuter base with lower property prices than the cities it serves
• Average asking rent for a 2-bed property in Grantham: approximately £700–£900 per month (2025 data). Gross yields of 5–7% are common on terraced properties bought at or below £150,000
• Significant new-build development south and east of the town has expanded supply in recent years, creating more choice for tenants but tempering rental price growth in some areas
• Logistics and distribution sector employment is a significant driver of PRS demand — workers at the A1(M) corridor distribution parks and nearby food processing facilities generate year-round rental demand
• Older terraced housing stock in the town centre and inner suburbs will require EPC investment ahead of the proposed Band C 2030 deadline — factor upgrade costs into acquisition analysis

Section 8 possession grounds available to Grantham landlords

With Section 21 abolished, all possession claims in Grantham must use Section 8 and a valid Schedule 2 ground:

• Ground 1 (own occupation): Landlord or close family member needs to move into the property — 4 months' notice required
• Ground 1A (sale): Landlord intends to sell with vacant possession — 4 months' notice; 12-month re-letting prohibition after possession
• Ground 8 (mandatory serious arrears): 3 months' rent arrears at time of notice and at hearing — 4 weeks' notice; court must grant possession if ground proved
• Ground 8a (persistent arrears): 3 or more episodes of 2+ months' arrears in any 36-month period — 4 weeks' notice; mandatory ground; tenant cannot defeat by clearing arrears
• Ground 14 (anti-social behaviour): Nuisance, annoyance, or criminal conduct at or near the property — immediate notice; court has discretion

LetSafe UK documents for Grantham landlords

LetSafe UK provides Renters' Rights Act 2025-compliant England landlord documents:

• Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreement (LS-E-001): RRA 2025-compliant PAT for all new England residential lets from 1 May 2026 — the only valid tenancy agreement format for new Grantham lets
• Section 8 Notice (LS-E-010): Revised Form 3A — the only valid possession notice for England residential lets from 1 May 2026
• Section 13 Rent Increase Notice (LS-E-011): Form 4A — mandatory for any rent increase on a Periodic Assured Tenancy in England

Frequently asked questions