Six days. That is all the time letting agents and the landlords they represent have before the Renters' Rights Act (RRA) changes the rules for every new tenancy in England. Letting Agent Today reported on 16 April 2026 that agents face three specific "must do" tasks before the Act goes live. Full source article unavailable at time of writing.
The Three Tasks Agents Must Complete Now
The first task is updating tenancy agreement templates. From 1 June 2026, the Renters' Rights Act abolishes fixed-term ASTs (assured shorthold tenancies) for new lets. All new tenancies will be periodic from day one. Any agent still issuing fixed-term agreements after that date is non-compliant.
The second task is reviewing Section 8 (grounds for possession) procedures. Section 21 (no-fault eviction notice) is gone for all tenancies from 1 June 2026. Agents must know which Section 8 grounds apply, how to serve them correctly, and what evidence landlords need to hold. For HMO (house in multiple occupation) operators, shared house tenancy structures add complexity - the grounds used must match the tenancy type precisely.
The third task is registering landlords on the new PRS (private rented sector) database. This is a legal requirement under the Renters' Rights Act. Agents acting on behalf of an unregistered landlord face compliance risk.
Further Reforms Still in the Pipeline
Beyond the three immediate tasks, agents must also prepare for mandatory ombudsman membership for landlords, revised pet deposit rules under the Renters' Rights Act, and updated referencing requirements. None of these are optional. For HMO operators, the decent homes standard extension and Awaab's Law also apply. Awaab's Law covers damp and mould response requirements, now extended to private rented sector properties, and sits alongside existing licence conditions. Check your licence. Then check your agent has done all three.
