Somerset West and Taunton Council administers housing, licensing, and enforcement across the district, encompassing Taunton town centre and a wide rural hinterland including Wellington, Minehead, and the Quantock Hills settlements. The private rented sector in Taunton has expanded significantly since the 2000s, driven in part by commuter demand from Bristol and Exeter via the M5, and proximity to Musgrove Park Hospital — one of Somerset's largest employers.
From 1 May 2026, the Renters' Rights Act 2025 (RRA 2025) brought the most significant changes to English residential tenancy law in 40 years. Every Taunton landlord letting residential property in England must now comply with the new Periodic Assured Tenancy regime, Section 8-only possession, and the statutory Awaab's Law repair timeframes.
Renters' Rights Act 2025 — England-wide obligations from 1 May 2026
All Taunton 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 and void. All possession must use Section 8 and one of the statutory Schedule 2 grounds under the Housing Act 1988 (as amended by the RRA 2025)
- Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreement required: All new tenancies from 1 May 2026 must use a Periodic Assured Tenancy (PAT) agreement. Fixed-term Assured Shorthold Tenancies are no longer available for new private residential lets in England
- Awaab's Law in force: Mandatory statutory timeframes apply for acknowledging, investigating, and repairing damp, mould, and HHSRS hazards — particularly relevant to Taunton's older converted Victorian townhouses and rural cottages
- Information Sheet obligation: Every landlord with a tenancy in place on 1 May 2026 was required to serve the official RRA 2025 Information Sheet on every named tenant by 31 May 2026. That deadline has passed — serve immediately if not yet done. Penalty: up to £7,000 per tenancy
- Pet request right: Tenants on PATs have a statutory right to request a pet in writing. Landlords must respond in writing within 42 days; no response is deemed consent
- Civil penalties up to £40,000: The RRA 2025 increases maximum civil penalties 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 raised via a formal Section 13 notice using Form 4A, once every 12 months. Contractual rent-review clauses in new PAT agreements are unenforceable
Somerset West and Taunton Council — HMO and licensing
Somerset West and Taunton Council administers mandatory HMO licensing and any additional or selective licensing schemes for the district. Taunton's growing student and professional rental market makes HMO compliance particularly important.
- Mandatory HMO licensing: All properties in Taunton (and across Somerset West and Taunton district) occupied by 5 or more people forming 2 or more separate households require a mandatory HMO licence under the Housing Act 2004
- Additional HMO licensing: Somerset West and Taunton Council's position on additional licensing for smaller HMOs (3–4 occupants) should be confirmed directly with the Private Sector Housing team. The council serves both urban Taunton and a large rural area, and designations can vary by area
- Selective licensing: Confirm the current selective licensing map with Somerset West and Taunton Council before letting. Some parts of Taunton town centre have attracted interest for designation given the concentration of private rented stock
- Licence conditions: HMO licence conditions specify minimum room sizes (6.51 m² for a single adult, 10.22 m² for two adults), required fire detection grade and type, emergency lighting, and maximum permitted occupancy. Taunton Victorian terraces converted to HMOs often require upgrading
- HMO planning: Converting a property to an HMO in Taunton may require planning permission for change of use from C3 (dwelling) to C4 (small HMO) depending on local Article 4 directions. Check with Somerset West and Taunton Council's planning team before any conversion works
Section 8 possession in Taunton post-May 2026
With Section 21 abolished, Taunton landlords must use Section 8 and establish a statutory ground. Key grounds and notice periods post-May 2026:
- Ground 1A (selling the property): 4 months' notice; 12-month re-letting ban after possession. Cannot be used in the first 12 months of the tenancy
- Ground 1 (own occupation): 4 months' notice; 12-month re-letting ban. Landlord or close family member moving in as principal home
- Ground 7A (anti-social behaviour): Immediate to 4 weeks' notice depending on severity, prior conviction, or closure order
- Ground 8 (rent arrears — 3 months+): 4 weeks' notice. Tenant must be at least 3 months in arrears at date of notice and at hearing. A mandatory ground
- Ground 8A (persistent arrears): New under RRA 2025; applies where rent has been 2+ months in arrears on 3 separate occasions in the preceding 3 years. 4 weeks' notice. Discretionary
- County Court process: After serving a valid Section 8 notice (Form 3A) and waiting for the notice period, apply to the County Court using Form N5B. Taunton cases are heard at Taunton County Court
Awaab's Law — damp, mould and HHSRS hazards in Taunton
Awaab's Law, extended to the private rented sector by the RRA 2025, imposes mandatory hazard response timeframes. Taunton's varied housing stock — from Victorian townhouses to rural stone cottages — presents particular challenges:
- Emergency hazards: Must be investigated within 24 hours and emergency works begun within 24 hours of investigation
- Damp and mould: Must be investigated within 14 days; remediation works must begin within 7 days of the investigation report
- Other hazards: Non-emergency HHSRS hazards must be investigated within 48 hours; remediation begun within a reasonable timeframe
- Documentation: Keep a written record of every tenant complaint, every inspection, every investigation report, and every works order. Somerset West and Taunton Council can request this evidence
- Older rural stock: Stone-built and solid-wall properties common in the Somerset countryside around Taunton carry a higher risk of penetrating and rising damp. Commission a structural damp survey before letting and address drainage and pointing issues proactively
Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards and EPC obligations
All residential lets in Taunton must meet minimum EPC requirements. The EPC C target is approaching:
- Current requirement: All private lets in England must have an EPC of at least Band E. It is unlawful to grant a new tenancy on a Band F or G property
- EPC C target for 2030: The Government has confirmed an EPC C target for new tenancies by 2030 and all tenancies by 2033. Somerset's older converted and rural stock is at particular risk of failing this threshold
- Warm Homes Plan grants: The Government's Warm Homes Plan includes landlord-accessible grants for insulation, heat pumps, and glazing in eligible properties. Somerset rural properties often qualify given their energy profile
- EPC registration: All EPCs must be registered on the EPC register. EPCs are valid for 10 years. A new EPC is required if works materially change the property's energy performance
- MEES exemptions: Landlords who cannot achieve Band E after spending up to £3,500 can register a cost cap exemption on the PRS Exemptions Register. Exemptions last 5 years and must be renewed
Gas, electrical and fire safety in Taunton
England-wide safety certificate obligations apply to all Taunton private rented properties:
- Gas Safety Certificate: Annual inspection by a Gas Safe registered engineer required for every property with gas appliances. Certificate must be given to the tenant within 28 days of issue
- EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report): Required every 5 years for all private lets. Current EICR must be provided to new tenants at the start of each tenancy
- Smoke alarms: A working smoke alarm on every storey is mandatory. Carbon monoxide detector required in every room with a fixed combustion appliance
- Solid fuel and biomass: Rural Taunton properties sometimes use solid fuel or biomass boilers. A carbon monoxide detector is mandatory in every room containing such an appliance
- Fire risk assessment (HMOs): All HMOs require a documented fire risk assessment. This must be reviewed annually or after any material change to the property
Get compliant: documents Taunton landlords need
LetSafe UK provides regulation-current compliance documents for Taunton landlords. All templates are written to comply with the Renters' Rights Act 2025 in its current form:
- Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreement (LS-E-001): The replacement for the AST, compliant with the RRA 2025 PAT regime. Includes pet request procedure, Section 13 rent increase clause, and all prescribed terms
- Section 8 Notice Pack (LS-E-010): Form 3A-compliant Section 8 notices for all grounds, including the updated mandatory and discretionary grounds introduced by the RRA 2025
- Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet (LS-E-011): The official information sheet you must serve on every existing tenant. Pre-completion form ready to date and serve
Frequently asked questions
Do Taunton landlords need an HMO licence in 2026?+
Mandatory HMO licensing applies to all properties in the Somerset West and Taunton district occupied by 5 or more people forming 2 or more separate households. You must hold a valid licence before the tenancy begins. Operating without a required licence is a criminal offence. Contact Somerset West and Taunton Council's Private Sector Housing team to confirm whether any additional licensing designation exists for smaller HMOs (3–4 occupants) in Taunton town centre areas.
What does the Renters' Rights Act 2025 mean for Taunton landlords?+
From 1 May 2026, Taunton landlords can no longer use fixed-term ASTs for new private residential lets — all new tenancies must be Periodic Assured Tenancies. Section 21 no-fault eviction is abolished; possession requires a Section 8 notice citing a statutory ground. Awaab's Law imposes mandatory hazard response timeframes, civil penalties rise to up to £40,000 per offence, and rent increases on PATs must be made via Section 13 notice only.
How do I raise the rent on a Taunton Periodic Assured Tenancy?+
Rent on a Periodic Assured Tenancy can only be increased by serving a formal Section 13 notice using Form 4A. The minimum notice period is one month, and rent can only be increased once every 12 months. Contractual rent-review clauses in PAT agreements are unenforceable. Tenants can challenge a proposed increase at the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) if they consider it above the open-market rate.
Does my rural Taunton property need an EPC before letting?+
Yes. All residential properties let in England, including rural and stone-built properties in the Somerset West and Taunton district, must have a valid EPC of at least Band E before a new tenancy is granted. Properties that cannot achieve Band E after spending up to £3,500 may qualify for a cost cap exemption, which must be registered on the national PRS Exemptions Register. An EPC is required even for very old or traditionally constructed rural properties unless a specific exemption applies.