The Renters' Rights Act is now law — what every Leicester landlord needs to know

The Renters' Rights Act came into force on 1st May 2026 — and it represents the biggest change to private renting in England in a generation. If you're a landlord with properties in Leicester, here's what you need to know right now.

What has changed?

The Act introduces several significant changes that affect how you let and manage your property:

Section 21 'no-fault' evictions are abolished. You can no longer serve a Section 21 notice to end a tenancy without reason. From 1st May 2026, you can only regain possession of your property through Section 8 grounds — for example, rent arrears, the property being sold, or you or a family member needing to move in.

All tenancies are now periodic. Fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) no longer exist for new lets. All new tenancies are periodic from day one, meaning there is no set end date. Tenants can give two months' notice to leave at any time.

Rent increases are more tightly controlled. Landlords can only increase rent once per year, and must use the correct Section 13 notice process. Tenants have stronger rights to challenge increases they consider excessive.

What do you need to do by 31st May 2026?

This is urgent. The government has produced an official Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 that all landlords and letting agents must send to every named tenant — either digitally or by post — by 31st May 2026. Failure to do so could result in a fine of up to £7,000.

If you are a managed landlord with First 4 Lettings, we are handling this on your behalf. If you manage your own property, you can download the Information Sheet from gov.uk/rentingischanging.

What about existing tenancies?

All existing assured shorthold tenancies automatically became periodic on 1st May 2026. You do not need to issue new tenancy agreements, but you do need to comply with the new rules going forward — including the requirement to send the Information Sheet.

What does this mean in practice?

For the majority of landlords with good tenants and well-managed properties, day-to-day lettings will feel largely the same. The key differences are in how you end tenancies and handle rent reviews.

The new possession grounds under Section 8 have been strengthened to give landlords more practical routes to regain their property when genuinely needed — including selling, moving in, or persistent serious rent arrears.

Our advice for Leicester landlords

If you're currently self-managing and feeling uncertain about navigating these changes, now is a sensible time to consider professional management. The compliance burden on landlords is increasing, and having an experienced agent handle notices, documentation, and legal requirements on your behalf removes the risk of costly mistakes.

If you have any questions about how the Renters' Rights Act affects your Leicester property, our team is happy to talk it through. Call us on 0116 270 6000 or email info@first4lettings.co.uk.

 


 

Written by Dechlan Connell

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PERMITTED PAYMENTS

As well as paying the rent, you may also be required to make the following permitted payments:

1) Holding Deposit: Up to one week’s rental

2) Deposit: One month’s rental (5 weeks rental dependent on individual’s circumstances)

3) Payments for utilities (gas, electricity & water), communication services (telephone & broadband), Installation/Subscription of cable/satellite, TV licence and council tax

4) Default Fee (late payment of rent): If full Rent is not paid within 14 days or more of the Rent Due Date there will be a charge 3% plus the Bank of England base interest rate of the full rental amount until full payment is received

5) Default Fee (breach of tenancy agreement, any other permitted payments, under relevant legislation including contractual damages): For any breach of the tenancy agreement based on the reasonably incurred costs of the agent or landlord

6) Replacement of keys, fobs or other security devices

7) Default Fee (changes to the tenancy): An administrative charge of £50.00 or greater for any assignment, variation or novation of the tenancy agreement made at the tenant’s request (only if agreed by The Landlord and/or The Landlord’s Agent)

8) Payments in respect of early termination of a tenancy agreement at the tenant’s request


TENANT PROTECTION

First 4 Lettings is a member of Client Money Protect which is a client money protection scheme, and also a member of PRS (Property Redress Scheme), which is a redress scheme.