Tamworth Landlord Compliance 2026 — Renters' Rights Act, Tamworth Borough Council and PRS Obligations

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

All Tamworth landlords must comply with the following from 1 May 2026:

• Section 21 abolished: No-fault possession notices served on or after 1 May 2026 are unlawful. All possession must be via Section 8 using the revised Schedule 2 grounds
• Periodic Assured Tenancy (PAT) required: All new tenancies from 1 May 2026 must be periodic (rolling) from the outset. Fixed-term ASTs cannot be granted for new assured tenancies
• Awaab's Law in force: Mandatory statutory timeframes for responding to and repairing damp, mould, HHSRS hazards, and other prescribed matters
• Information Sheet obligation: 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
• Pet request right: Tenants on a PAT have a statutory right to request a pet. Landlords must respond in writing within 42 days; silence is deemed consent
• Section 13 rent increases only: Contractual rent-review clauses in PATs are unenforceable. Rent increases must be served via Form 4A with the correct statutory notice period
• Civil penalties up to £40,000: Maximum civil penalty for PRS non-compliance raised to £40,000 per offence under the RRA 2025

Tamworth Borough Council — licensing and enforcement

Tamworth Borough Council's Environmental Health and Housing team is the key local authority body for Tamworth landlords:

• HMO mandatory licensing: Properties with 5 or more persons forming 2 or more households require a mandatory HMO licence. Operating without a licence is a criminal offence — unlimited fine and potential rent repayment order
• Selective licensing check: Tamworth Borough Council does not currently operate a borough-wide selective licensing scheme, but may designate selective or additional licensing in specific wards. Always check TBC's current housing licensing pages for your specific property postcode before letting
• Awaab's Law enforcement: TBC's Environmental Health officers can issue Improvement Notices, Civil Penalty Notices, and Emergency Remedial Action Notices for damp, mould, and HHSRS hazards
• Energy efficiency: Minimum EPC Band E required for all lettings in England. MEES Phase 2 (proposed EPC Band C for new tenancies) is anticipated to affect Tamworth's older terrace stock
• Property conditions: TBC conducts targeted HHSRS inspections of older PRS stock. Tamworth has a mixture of Victorian terraces, inter-war semis, and post-war council-built housing — all potentially affected by damp and energy efficiency enforcement

Tamworth's rental market — Birmingham commuter belt and logistics hub

Tamworth's rental market is driven by multiple demand sources:

• Birmingham commuter market: Tamworth is approximately 15 miles from Birmingham city centre via the A4091/A38 or M42 J10. Direct rail services run to Birmingham New Street (approximately 25 minutes), making Tamworth one of the most affordable commuter towns within easy reach of Birmingham
• A5 logistics corridor: The A5 (Watling Street) through Tamworth is one of the UK's major logistics spines. Large distribution centres and manufacturing parks near the A5/M42 junction generate sustained rental demand from warehouse and logistics workers
• Ventura Park: Tamworth's major retail and commercial park on the A5 creates retail and service sector employment that supports the PRS
• Lichfield proximity: Lichfield District Council administers the area immediately north-east of Tamworth. Some Tamworth demand is cross-border — check council jurisdiction before applying for licensing
• Entry prices and yields: Tamworth terrace houses typically range from £120,000–£180,000, delivering gross yields of 6–8% — strong for the West Midlands commuter belt. Semi-detached properties range from £175,000–£250,000
• Long-term demand: Tamworth's combination of transport connectivity, logistics employment, and affordable housing relative to Birmingham and Lichfield creates durable long-term rental demand

Awaab's Law — Tamworth enforcement context

Tamworth has a proportion of older Victorian and inter-war housing stock that is susceptible to damp, condensation, and mould. Awaab's Law imposes mandatory timeframes:

• Acknowledge in writing: Every report of damp, mould, or an HHSRS hazard must be acknowledged promptly in writing
• Investigate within the prescribed period: Carry out a physical inspection within the investigation period
• Repair within the repair period: Complete works within the statutory repair period after the investigation
• Tamworth Borough Council enforcement: TBC's Environmental Health team has powers to issue Improvement Notices and Civil Penalty Notices for non-compliance
• Document everything: Maintain a written log of every report received, date of inspection, findings, works ordered, contractor details, and completion date
• Victorian terrace caveat: Many Tamworth Victorian terraces have solid-wall construction — address damp at source rather than treating symptoms, to avoid Awaab's Law liability

Section 8 possession in Tamworth — 2026 key points

Section 8 possession claims for Tamworth properties are issued in the County Court covering the Tamworth area:

• Ground 8 (mandatory rent arrears): At least two months' arrears at both notice date and hearing date
• Ground 1A (landlord intends to sell): Four months' notice required. Twelve-month moratorium from tenancy start
• Ground 1 (own/family occupation): Four months' notice required
• Ground 14 (anti-social behaviour): Discretionary; can issue court proceedings immediately without a minimum notice period
• Form 3A: Prescribed Section 8 notice form; errors invalidate the notice
• Information Sheet precondition: For Grounds 1 and 1A, Information Sheet must have been served before the Section 8 notice is issued

2026 Tamworth landlord compliance checklist

Every item below is a legal obligation — not a recommendation:

• New tenancy agreements: Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreement from 1 May 2026 — no fixed-term ASTs
• Information Sheet: serve on all existing tenants by 31 May 2026
• Awaab's Law log: written hazard reporting and repair log in place
• HMO licensing: mandatory licence for 5+ occupants/2+ households — check TBC website for any selective/additional licensing in your ward
• Gas Safety Certificate: annually renewed; copy to tenant before or on move-in
• EICR: current (within 5 years); copy to tenant within 28 days of request
• EPC: minimum E rating; valid certificate; copy to tenant at tenancy start
• Deposit protection: protect in an approved scheme and serve Prescribed Information within 30 days
• Right to Rent: check all adult occupants before tenancy start
• Smoke and CO alarms: smoke detector on every floor; CO alarm in every room with a combustion appliance

Frequently asked questions