Buy-to-let lender, Fleet Mortgages, has launched a new guide for landlords and their advisers titled ‘Getting Landlords Renters’ Rights Ready: A Guide for Advisers’.
The landmark piece of legislation is set to reshape the private rental sector when it is expected to receive Royal Assent in Autumn 2025 and come into effect in early 2026.
The guide outlines in detail what landlords need to know about the key measures within the Bill, including:
• The abolition of Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs): All fixed-term tenancies will be replaced by rolling, month-to-month agreements, ending the traditional six or 12-month tenancy structure. Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions will also be abolished, meaning landlords will only be able to regain possession of their property on specific statutory grounds such as selling, moving in themselves, or tenant arrears.
• New rent rules: Rental listings must include a set price with landlords unable to accept offers above the advertised rent, ending bidding wars. Rent increases will be limited to once per year, must follow Section 13 notice rules, and can be challenged by tenants at tribunal if deemed excessive.
• Prohibition of rental discrimination: Landlords will no longer be able to exclude tenants based on benefit status or having children, and ‘no DSS’ or ‘professionals only’ policies will be outlawed. Affordability assessments will need to consider benefits income, with credit checks and guarantors still permitted.
• Extension of the Decent Homes Standard to the PRS: Landlords will need to ensure properties meet stricter standards for safety, repair and quality, with a greater focus on tackling damp and mould, plus stronger enforcement powers for local authorities.
• New regulatory obligations: The introduction of a compulsory PRS Landlord Database and an Ombudsman scheme will require all landlords to register themselves and their properties, upload compliance documents such as gas safety and EPC certificates, and join an independent dispute resolution service.
The guide also includes practical checklists for landlords on each of these areas, providing clear, actionable advice on how to prepare and protect their portfolios ahead of these changes.
Steve Cox, chief commercial officer at Fleet Mortgages, commented: “The Renters’ Rights Bill is set to be the biggest shake-up of the private rented sector in decades, and its impact on landlords – and their advisers – cannot be overstated. From the end of fixed-term tenancies and Section 21 evictions, to stricter rent controls and mandatory registration, this legislation will fundamentally change how landlords manage their properties and interact with tenants.
“Landlords who fail to prepare risk longer voids, higher turnover, and even being unable to legally let their properties.
“This new guide sets out the key measures of the Bill in clear, practical terms, alongside actionable checklists advisers can use to ensure their landlord clients are Renters’ Rights ready. This is about equipping advisers with the knowledge and tools they need to stay ahead of the curve and provide real value to their landlord clients at a time of significant change.”
