Devon · Private rented sector
Landlord templates, Exeter.
Tenancy agreements, notices, and compliance documents for Exeter's 11,000+ private landlords across Devon. Every template is updated for the Renters' Rights Act 2025, in force from 1 May 2026, with Exeter City Council as the local housing authority.
Private rented households
~16,000
Average monthly rent (2-bed)
~£1,050
Average house price (2-bed terrace)
~£270,000
Exeter rental market, what landlords need to know
Exeter is the county city of Devon and a significant South West hub with a population of approximately 130,000. The University of Exeter is a Russell Group institution with around 23,000 students, generating strong year-round student and young professional rental demand. The city is home to the Met Office (a major employer), Devon County Council, the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, and significant retail and financial services employment. Exeter has experienced strong house price growth over the past decade and now represents one of the more expensive rental markets in the South West outside Bristol. Its connectivity (M5, regular London Paddington rail service in under 2 hours) attracts London-related workers and remote workers seeking lower cost of living.
Licensing requirements in Exeter
Exeter City Council operates an Additional Licensing scheme for smaller HMOs (3-4 occupants forming 2 or more households) in addition to the national mandatory licensing scheme for larger HMOs. Landlords of HMOs in Exeter should check current licensing requirements with Exeter City Council before letting. Selective licensing of non-HMO properties is not currently in force across Exeter. All Renters Rights Act 2025 provisions apply to Exeter landlords from 1 May 2026.
Essential documents for Exeter landlords
View all →Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreement
The new default English tenancy from 1 May 2026. Periodic from day one, with the prescribed written statement of terms built in. Ships with the Form 4A rent-increase notice template and an Information Sheet delivery acknowledgement form so a buying landlord has every Phase-1 compliance document in one pack.
Section 8 Notice Pack (All Grounds)
Every mandatory and discretionary ground on the new 2026 list, pre-labelled with the notice period, arrears threshold, and evidence block.
Landlord Annual Compliance Checklist
Annual walk-through of every compliance touchpoint: gas, electrical, EPC, smoke/CO, Right-to-Rent, deposit, licensing, database registration.
Renters' Rights Act Transition Pack
For landlords who need to migrate existing ASTs onto the new regime. The single most-searched landlord product of 2026.
What changes for Exeter landlords on 1 May 2026
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 applies in full to every Exeter tenancy from 1 May 2026, enforced locally by Exeter City Council. The headline changes for Devon landlords are:
- → Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions permanently abolished, use Section 8
- → All new tenancies must use Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreements, no more ASTs
- → Rent increases via Section 13 only, contractual review clauses unenforceable
- → Pet requests must be considered, blanket ‘no pets’ policies are unlawful
- → Private landlord database registration coming, date TBC
Exeter landlord FAQs
Which council handles landlord licensing in Exeter?
Exeter City Council is the local housing authority for Exeter, Devon. Additional HMO licensing operates here for smaller shared houses, alongside mandatory national HMO licensing for properties with 5 or more occupants. Always confirm the current designation with the council before letting, as licensing schemes and area boundaries are reviewed periodically.
Does the Renters Rights Act apply to Exeter landlords?
Yes. Exeter is in England and all Renters Rights Act 2025 provisions apply from 1 May 2026. This includes Section 21 abolition, conversion of ASTs to Periodic Assured Tenancies, Section 13 rent increases via Form 4A, Awaab's Law damp and mould response obligations, and the right of tenants to request pet permission. Exeter's additional HMO licensing scheme applies independently of the national Renters Rights Act changes.
Do Exeter landlords need an HMO licence for a shared student house?
It depends on the size of the HMO. Mandatory national licensing applies to HMOs with 5 or more occupants forming 2 or more households. Exeter City Council's Additional Licensing scheme extends licensing to smaller HMOs with 3-4 occupants forming 2 or more households. A three-bedroom student house with three students from different households would require an Additional Licence in Exeter. Check with Exeter City Council's Private Sector Housing team for the current licensing requirements, fees, and any applicable conditions before letting to multiple occupants.